Where should I study abroad?
Nov 1st, 2005 | 10:25 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Nov 2005
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Where should I study abroad?
I am a sophomore at the University of Maryland and I plan to study abroad this upcoming fall in Spain. But I do not know in which city it would be best to live. All suggestions are welcome. Thanks!
Nov 1st, 2005 | 10:33 AM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
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My suggestion would be to start by going to your Study Abroad office. Your school may only have reciprocal prgrams with a limited amount of Universities there.
I think madrid would offer a myriad of opportunities. You are in the middle of the country and you could get to the coast, the mountains, etc. by train in a relatively short time. Madird is home to many Universities and many american Schools have sister schools there.
I would talk to students who did this program last year and get feed back from them.
Have Fun!!!
I think madrid would offer a myriad of opportunities. You are in the middle of the country and you could get to the coast, the mountains, etc. by train in a relatively short time. Madird is home to many Universities and many american Schools have sister schools there.
I would talk to students who did this program last year and get feed back from them.
Have Fun!!!
Nov 1st, 2005 | 10:39 AM
#3
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,298
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Brian,
I agree with the previous poster's suggestion that you should check with your college first. The son of a friend who studied at George Washington(GW) Univ. in Washington DC, spent a semester in Sevilla studying at the University of Sevilla. This was arranged through GW. By the way, he loved the experience and Sevilla!
I agree with the previous poster's suggestion that you should check with your college first. The son of a friend who studied at George Washington(GW) Univ. in Washington DC, spent a semester in Sevilla studying at the University of Sevilla. This was arranged through GW. By the way, he loved the experience and Sevilla!
Nov 1st, 2005 | 11:04 AM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
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The advice to seek out the "study abroad office" is clearly the right place to start; they have their own web page...
http://www.intprog.umd.edu/ies/StudyAbroad/
and in particular, you need to see
http://www.intprog.umd.edu/ies/Study...nadvising.html
You'll note, no doubt (perhaps you already know) that U of Md has canceled its own program in Alcala, Spain.
But they refer all students to the webpage http://www.iiepassport.org which lists more programs in Spain than I can count. The U of Md office will almost surely have info on dealing with some of these other universities, and NO info on dealing on many of the rest of them.
While it may seem intimidating to deal with a different university for your study abroad semester, thousands of students do it every year. They will almost surely be able to advise you on what are problems to look out for... and which are easily addressed.
You are wise to seek advice on choosing a city here. It looks like there are at least 20 cities from which to choose.
You might post here whether you are seeking instruction <i><u>in Spanish</u></i> or not - - as that might influence the replies some give.
Our daughter (at Clemson University) studied abroad in Scotland last year (administered by Butler University, in Indianapolis), and encountered no significant problems, doing it that way.
I think every city has something to recommend it; Sevilla and Barcelona would seem great from my limited perspective as a tourist, but I have also heard of very good experiences in Salamanca, Toledo and San Sebastian, just to name a few. I wonder if there are any <i>bad</i> choices!
Keep "us" informed on how you work through your decision. Although this forum does not attract so many college students (see the "ThornTree" on www.lonelyplanet.com for more peer advice), there are a lot of parents of college-aged kids here who would enjoy learning through this with you!
Best wishes,
Rex
http://www.intprog.umd.edu/ies/StudyAbroad/
and in particular, you need to see
http://www.intprog.umd.edu/ies/Study...nadvising.html
You'll note, no doubt (perhaps you already know) that U of Md has canceled its own program in Alcala, Spain.
But they refer all students to the webpage http://www.iiepassport.org which lists more programs in Spain than I can count. The U of Md office will almost surely have info on dealing with some of these other universities, and NO info on dealing on many of the rest of them.
While it may seem intimidating to deal with a different university for your study abroad semester, thousands of students do it every year. They will almost surely be able to advise you on what are problems to look out for... and which are easily addressed.
You are wise to seek advice on choosing a city here. It looks like there are at least 20 cities from which to choose.
You might post here whether you are seeking instruction <i><u>in Spanish</u></i> or not - - as that might influence the replies some give.
Our daughter (at Clemson University) studied abroad in Scotland last year (administered by Butler University, in Indianapolis), and encountered no significant problems, doing it that way.
I think every city has something to recommend it; Sevilla and Barcelona would seem great from my limited perspective as a tourist, but I have also heard of very good experiences in Salamanca, Toledo and San Sebastian, just to name a few. I wonder if there are any <i>bad</i> choices!
Keep "us" informed on how you work through your decision. Although this forum does not attract so many college students (see the "ThornTree" on www.lonelyplanet.com for more peer advice), there are a lot of parents of college-aged kids here who would enjoy learning through this with you!
Best wishes,
Rex
Nov 1st, 2005 | 08:08 PM
#5
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,204
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Oh brian, you are in for the time of your life. Our daughter just returned from 6 months at the University in Siena (from Univ. of Wash. AHA program) and it was FABULOUS! (I should say our Italian daughter!) Spain is also incredible, and from what I've seen and the students we've met while travelling there, you will have a great time. I would probably flip a coin between Barcelona and Seville myself, but Granada and Salamanca are great too. A lot depends on if you want a smaller or larger city and how important it is for you to be by the sea and such. The suggestions given so far are good and I'll add to check out guidebooks at bookstores and various websites including red2000.com, spainlist.com, tourspain.es. Also, post on lonleyplanet and slowtravel--I think they have a bit younger crowd.
Have a great time--I'm sure you will!
Have a great time--I'm sure you will!
Nov 1st, 2005 | 08:39 PM
#6
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,896
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I cannot help you with Spain.
I can tell you that if your own university's program to Spain was canceled there are a number of American colleges and universities that will let you study for a semester, term or year abroad as their enrolled student. Often your own campus will have preapproved certain "partner university" programs. Ask your guidance counselor if they have a list.
The reason for this intermediary is that your home university cannot invest the time to preapprove every foreign university's catalog or reputation.
Some small American colleges seemed to specialize in this venture so much that we joked they had far more overseas students than they did on their home campus. Among them were Middlebury College in Vermont and Beaver College in Pennsylvania. However, these were fairly well organized, often beginning with a group flight over to the country, followed by an orientation and activities in the capital city, perhaps even a "home family stay" or other tour before classes start.
If you do such a program and are on financial aid, you will want to be rather persistent in finding out how it all pencils out. Then check with your home university to see if they agree with that assessment.
Good luck!
I can tell you that if your own university's program to Spain was canceled there are a number of American colleges and universities that will let you study for a semester, term or year abroad as their enrolled student. Often your own campus will have preapproved certain "partner university" programs. Ask your guidance counselor if they have a list.
The reason for this intermediary is that your home university cannot invest the time to preapprove every foreign university's catalog or reputation.
Some small American colleges seemed to specialize in this venture so much that we joked they had far more overseas students than they did on their home campus. Among them were Middlebury College in Vermont and Beaver College in Pennsylvania. However, these were fairly well organized, often beginning with a group flight over to the country, followed by an orientation and activities in the capital city, perhaps even a "home family stay" or other tour before classes start.
If you do such a program and are on financial aid, you will want to be rather persistent in finding out how it all pencils out. Then check with your home university to see if they agree with that assessment.
Good luck!
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Nov 2nd, 2005 | 12:28 AM
#8
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 12,492
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apart from your necessary academic requirement fulfillment,this may sound trite, but if weather is important to you, or you want to experience a different climate than where you usually live, this is the time to do so.
would you like access to the beach? mountains for skiing? more museums? adventure sports? do you prefer rain and cold? sun and sea?
free time after the classes would dictate (to me) what type of place i would like to live, since for once one can CHOOSE.
if you need to keep practicing a sport or musical instrument it is best to look into this before you decide, to see what is available for you.depending on your priorities, i am sure you can find the ideal place.
otherwise.. all of the major places mentioned are charming, historical, interesting and have numerous programs and more students, which proves their popularity,to choose from.
would you like access to the beach? mountains for skiing? more museums? adventure sports? do you prefer rain and cold? sun and sea?
free time after the classes would dictate (to me) what type of place i would like to live, since for once one can CHOOSE.
if you need to keep practicing a sport or musical instrument it is best to look into this before you decide, to see what is available for you.depending on your priorities, i am sure you can find the ideal place.
otherwise.. all of the major places mentioned are charming, historical, interesting and have numerous programs and more students, which proves their popularity,to choose from.
