Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Good program that needs some details ironed out to be great. Past Review

By (University of Southern Indiana) - abroad from 06/28/2017 to 08/01/2017 with

USI: Mira - Spanish Theater in Theory and Practice

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Improved language ability. Renewed love of Spanish culture.

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

There were many detailed left to be arranged once we got to Mira. There were frequent changes to the program. It is much easier for Americans to have a set expectation upon arriving instead of a "moving target."

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

The first three weeks were great. The last two weeks, we ate a lot of frozen pizza and potato salad mixed with leftovers. I feel that I paid way too much money to eat that way.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Mira was extremely safe.

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

But not as a guinea pig... There were some situations that could have been avoided with better advance planning.

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)

Students were told to bring $200 cash... however with the exchange rate at $1.25, that wasn't very much money. We were also told in advance that we would spend about $10 on the big meal of the day, when in fact, we were urged to pay "Spanish style" which meant that we divided the bill up by the number of persons eating. That made it very difficult for some of the girls to eat economically. We spent twice as much on food as we planned. We also had to pay for admissions to museums that we were told in advance were included. This really cut into some students' budgets.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Not much once arriving in Mira. About $80 in Madrid (expected to spend $30-40).
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Take more than you need. Don't pay "Spanish style." Look for less expensive restaurants.

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? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 400 - level literature class
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Jump in and use it!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Speaking Spanish
  • Seeing Spain
* What could be improved?
  • Better organization
  • Better management of money for food
  • More travel opportunities
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? My philosophy is that there is something to be learned from every situation. It may not always be what you thought you were going to learn, there there is always something to learn. I learned about myself and my values while in Spain.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!