Fantastic program that every student considering Europe should go on!! Past Review

By Alex P (Economics., Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/03/2014 to 05/16/2014 with

UPCES - Study Abroad in Prague (CERGE-EI, Charles University)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned so much about the Czech culture plus the intangibles about going abroad. These are the most valuable part as you learn things about yourself that you had not known before!!!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	At first our housing arrangements did not work our well. However after much consultation we ended up moving places and the new apartment was great.
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	The program provided a list of could doctors for us to use.
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget? (1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)	Prague is considered a cheap city, but you have to budget your expenses especially when traveling around Europe.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Try to budget your travel and book flights/ buses ahead of time to save money.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language? 0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language	The introductory language course gave us the opportunity to learn basic phrases and grammar and navigate our way around the city.
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program?	None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program?	Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure?	300 level
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants?	Study some introductory Czech phrases before you depart.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	Program Set-Up trips Czech Language Course Prague is a beautiful city
* What could be improved?	Housing situation Food
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	That the housing process would not be as smooth as anticipated.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.	The Avid Adventurer The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Comprehending the Holocaust
Course Department:	History
Instructor:	Professor Plzak
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course required a lot of reading but was not overly difficult. Professor Plzak is very knowledgeable on the topic manner and provided great insight on the subject from an Eastern European view. The course was graded based on a few exams and a seminar paper. There were lots of chances to participate and even a field trip at the end!
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Global Communication
Course Department:	Communications
Instructor:	Professor Nesbit
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course provided a basic overview of communications issues in a global context. It was graded based on a set of exams and a presentation that was set up as debate style. Overall the course was good and offered insight into some issues that I had not explored at my home institution.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Introductory Czech Language
Course Department:	Language
Instructor:	Professor Silva
Instruction Language:	Czech
Comments:	This course was excellent. The professor helped the students move at a rapid pace to learn the Czech language but did it in a manner that made it totally understandable. The course did require nightly assignments and was also graded based on a series of tests and papers. It was one of the courses that required the most work but was definitely rewarding.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Prague as a Living History
Course Department:	History
Instructor:	Professor Andrej
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was very enjoyable and not overly difficult. It placed Prague in a historical context and offered great insight into the cultural development of the city. It was graded based on a series of tests and papers. I would highly recommend this course to any abroad student!!
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Economics of Transition
Course Department:	Economics
Instructor:	Professor Semerak and Zigic
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The course provided context to the Czech Republic's move from socialism to free market from people who actually took part in the process. The professors are very knowledgeable. The only challenging part of the course is that it is taught by two different professors so you do not get used to a particular teaching style. The course is graded based on a set of exams, and a final paper. Overall I really enjoyed the course though
Credit Transfer Issues: