Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Special June 12, 2023

By (Economics, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/08/2022 to 05/24/2022 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Best experience of my life. Learned so much about European culture as a whole and style of living.

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?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Once in a lifetime opportunity. Classes were great. Professors were great. Apartment location was great. I have no complaints.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Approximately $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? It is definitely fun to eat out and explore the great food in Prague, but I highly recommend buying groceries after the first week to save money on food expenses.

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
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? Elementary
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? Don't be scared! The local residents will appreciate your effort to speak the language and compete.

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

  • Americans
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?
  • Travelling
  • Professors
  • Food
* What could be improved?
  • N/a
  • N/a
  • N/a
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I planned more trips to different locations. I was fearful that if I planned too many that I wouldn't appreciate Prague but I definitely had weekends left that could've been utilized

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Comprehending the Holocaust

Course Department: History
Instructor: Professor Michal Plzak
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Professor Plzak is one of the best professors I've ever had. He was extremely knowledgable about the material and made every class very engaging. He creates a class environment that makes every student comfortable, despite the material being a horrific event in our world's history. I always felt prepared for exams and class discussions because the material was digestible and fun to read.
Credit Transfer Issues: No, I had no issue transferring credits.
Course Name/Rating:

Prague as a Living History: Anatomy of a European Capital
Course Department: History
Instructor: Ondřej Skripnik
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I thoroughly enjoyed this class because of its hands-on approach. Being able to walk around Prague's diverse districts while simultaneously learning about the important architecture and landmarks allowed me to appreciate the areas history significantly more. Exams were based on photographic memory of the locations to it made it easier to connect a place with a feeling or understanding of its development when taking exams. Very fun class.
Credit Transfer Issues: No credit transfer issues.
Course Name/Rating:

European-American Relations in the 21st Century
Course Department: International Relations
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class wasn't particular connected with Prague but offered great insight on Euro-Atlantic relations as a whole, which I valued. Our professor had served as a diplomat and had legitimate experience dealing with world conflicts. Each student had to create a presentation of an event that defined the modern world, so that made the course extremely engaging. Our Professor was a fair grader and made his expectations clear about assignments.
Credit Transfer Issues: No Credit Transfer issues.
Course Name/Rating:

Elementary Czech
Course Department: Czech Language
Instructor: Zuzana Švíbková
Instruction Language: Czech
Comments: Naturally, this course was challenging. I have taken language courses before but the Czech language took me some time to grasp, especially orally. However, Professor Švíbková was very approachable and comforting during class, which motivated me to improve. Quizzes and exams were extremely fair and I feel Professor Švíbková did a good job preparing us for them.
Credit Transfer Issues: No Credit Transfer Issues.
Course Name/Rating:

Environmental Economics in the Central European Context
Course Department: Environmental Economics
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class varied in its challenges. At times it felt extremely dry and overstuffed with information. The Professor was passionate which definitely helped in terms of engagement.
Credit Transfer Issues: No Credit Issues.