Reviews for

Reviews for

Be the first to review this abroad program

Add

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2010 Spring Reviewer Worth the travel, the expenses... you will have the most unforgettable memories of your life (if you just try) and meet so many wonderful people and learn so much! ACADEMICS Friendliest professors who are always there to help and get you accustomed to living in another country. Best way to learn another language as well. Quality of Courses: 4, Excellent Choice of Courses: 3, Good Availability of Resources: 3, Good Interaction with Professors: 4, Excellent Assessment and Grading System: 3, Good HOUSING Not fully equipped but manageable. Long walk from school. Housing Arrangement: Through the Host University Housing Type: Apartment or House If I could do it over, I would choose...Personal Choice or On Campus SOCIAL Mingling with the locals was easy for me. I found myself learning Italian better by forcing myself to practice with them and outside of school and my study abroad group. The locals turned into amazing friends and a community of people I can't wait to revisit. The city is best described as: Students mainly interact with locals Openness and Friendliness of the Locals: 4, Excellent Social and Night Life for Students: 4, Excellent Ease and Opportunity to Travel: 4, Excellent EXPENSES I spent more on many things, but it got me involved in the culture and allowed me to do things I would have never done, had I not cared less about money. Main source of funding: Family What I spent, compared to what I normally spend at home... Food: I spent more Phone: I spent less Housing: I spent the same Social: I spent more Travel: I spent more Worked abroad? Yes, I worked legally Worked Where? On-Campus

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2009 Summer Reviewer I enjoyed the immersions into local culture. I felt that these were important in understanding what we were reading and learning about. ACADEMICS My entire volunteer experience helped me to realize that I would like to pursue a career in public health.

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2009 Summer Reviewer Salamanca had a lot of events and activities to participate in, and was not too big as to where I felt uncomfortable or lost. ACADEMICS I met a local singing group that played in the Plaza each night. We became very good friends, and still talk to this day. They helped me a lot with my Spanish, and were sometimes able to teach me more than my professors.

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2008 Summer Reviewer We were given a lot of free time for independent study and travel.

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2005 Spring Reviewer This program changed my life. I was not sure if I was ready to go abroad, and this was an excellent compromise that was affordable and yet also very exciting. Now living in New York City, I still use lessons that I learned in Urban Studies daily. ACADEMICS I was previously a religion major but realized a new found loved for sociology and an academic approach to social justice issues. Urban Studies gave me a framework of learning about new communities that I use to this very day and gave me a context by which to dive into the academic world of sociology. Quality of Courses: 4, Excellent Choice of Courses: 4, Excellent Availability of Resources: 5 Interaction with Professors: 4, Excellent Assessment and Grading System: 4, Excellent HOUSING The apartment was furnished and comfortable, nothing fancy but absolutely no problems either. Housing Arrangement: Through the Host University Housing Type: Apartment or House If I could do it over, I would choose...exactly where i lived SOCIAL Living in Hyde Park near the U of C, things shut down pretty early and it's hard to get downtown after a certain hour due to bus schedules. However, there were other houses off the El that we could go visit or spend the night if we got stuck. Social life was exactly what you made of it. The city is best described as: Students mainly interact with locals Openness and Friendliness of the Locals: 3, Good Social and Night Life for Students: 3, Good Ease and Opportunity to Travel: 4, Excellent EXPENSES In Chicago, you can spend a lot of money. I feel like the sheer volume of activities and resources at our disposal offset an overwhelming need to find our own adventures. Program projects provided other ways to find adventure as well. Main source of funding: Personal Savings What I spent, compared to what I normally spend at home... Food: I spent the same Phone: I spent less Housing: I spent more Social: I spent more Travel: I spent less Worked abroad? No, I did not want to work

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2007 Fall Reviewer My experience was in Killarney, Ireland. I was given freedom in the program. EXPENSES I did not expect the cost of living to be as high as it was in Ireland. I am very fortunate that I saved up enough money beforehand for my trip. Recommend that students look into the average cost of rent, groceries, and travel ahead of time.

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2005 Spring Reviewer Great classes, teachers, program coordinator, facilities, planned trips, free time allotment, and support from home and abroad staff ACADEMICS I was able to experience my father's home country which was amazing and invaluable. EXPENSES It is very possible to do study abroad on a budget. There were some people in my program that spent less than $4000 and some that spent over $20,000

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2009 Summer Reviewer I enjoyed the ability to travel with people in class on trips outside of classroom field trips. ACADEMICS I gained a lot of great memories, and also some great friends and knowledge.

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2007 Summer Reviewer The faculty definitely were the best part. ACADEMICS Seeing the schools there was eye-opening.

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2009 Summer Reviewer The strength of the program was studying cultural differences while living in a foreign counry for a month. It helped us adapt to our experience. SOCIAL What impacted me the most was the time that I spent becoming friends with the locals. Not only was it interesting to get to know them, I learned a lot of things from them. It was intresting to hear things from an extremely different perspectve.

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2008 Spring Reviewer An amazing experience. i met a lot of good people and got to experience things, both in my education and personal life that i would not have gotten to do. also i really got to learn what i could do for myself in a place where i really was not familiar with the people or the location. HOUSING Lived in on Campus apartments with 7 roomates. 6 locals and 1 other international student. Housing Type: Apartment (Independent)

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2009 Summer Reviewer Both Dr. Tucker and Dr. Lui made the trip fun and interesting. Both were very knowledgeable and approachable on any questions we had. HOUSING We stayed in really nice hotels but still saw a lot of the real China. EXPENSES Nope

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2009 Summer Reviewer Dr. Painter (faculty-led program leader) was amazing. His experience with the program and his connections allowed for us to have an amazing trip. ACADEMICS I was able to visit with family while in Italy. This increased the impact that this experience had on my life. I don't know if I would have been able to do that had I not been on this trip. EXPENSES Suggest that people pay cash not use credit cards.

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2009 Fall Reviewer Going to Oaxaca through Sol Abroad was absolutely the best decision I could have ever made for myself. I more than adored my host family and cried my eyes out the morning I had to leave. I still keep in touch with friends I met through the program. I had studied abroad 3 times before and NEVER had the experience like I did through Sol Abroad. I could not possibly say enough to explain how much I loved my host family. They truly made me feel like I was a part of their family. I miss them so very much. The food we had was A-mazing! The teachers at the university were wonderful and the options of classes to choose from were pretty cool. The excurions we went on were the best and off the beaten path. Each week we had some type of cultural activity and it could be anything from jewelry making, cooking class, dance class, etc. I enjoyed how EVERYTHING really was included in the price. My past experiences we very different from the one through Sol. It was definitely everything they promised it would be AND MORE. I have looked over so many programs each time I have studied abroad, so I know how you feel like the reviews are not a true description. I wish words could explain how much this trip meant to me and how awesome it was. It has almost been two years since I have been home from Oaxaca and I still think about it on a daily basis. :( I desperately want to go back!!! Quality of Courses: 4, Excellent Choice of Courses: 4, Excellent Availability of Resources: 4, Excellent Interaction with Professors: 4, Excellent Assessment and Grading System: 4, Excellent HOUSING The home stay was by far the absolute best part of my whole semester. Housing Type: Host Family If I could do it over, I would choose...WIth the EXACT SAME host family. SOCIAL Fabulous. The city is best described as: Students mainly interact with locals Openness and Friendliness of the Locals: 4, Excellent Social and Night Life for Students: 4, Excellent Ease and Opportunity to Travel: 4, Excellent EXPENSES Most things were cheaper than here in the States but the Fabrica de Francia, like Macy's, was about the same. :) Main source of funding: Loans What I spent, compared to what I normally spend at home... Food: I spent less Phone: I spent less Housing: I spent less Social: I spent less Travel: I spent less

Overall (Excellent) rating from a 2010 Summer Reviewer Such a life changing experience. I can not wait to return and visit more of Italy. The excursions helped show you the culture and history of Italy that I could not have found in the classroom. I made friends for life in Italy. Worth every cent. ACADEMICS The professors were great and so helpful. Very Interactive courses that make class time fly by. Quality of Courses: 4, Excellent Choice of Courses: 4, Excellent Availability of Resources: 4, Excellent Interaction with Professors: 4, Excellent Assessment and Grading System: 4, Excellent HOUSING The host family is a huge part of the experience. Our family was amazing and I can not wait to visit again. I learned more Italian living with the family as well, as they only spoke Italian. Housing Arrangement: Through the Host University Housing Type: Host Family If I could do it over, I would choose...Host Family SOCIAL The night life in Sorrento is indescribable. the views coupled with the amazing people really set an excellent atmosphere for learning and lots of fun. Great night life. The city is best described as: Interaction with locals, dominated by student life Openness and Friendliness of the Locals: 4, Excellent Social and Night Life for Students: 4, Excellent Ease and Opportunity to Travel: 4, Excellent Main source of funding: Government Grants and Scholarships What I spent, compared to what I normally spend at home... Food: I spent more Phone: I spent less Housing: I spent more Social: I spent more Travel: I spent less Worked abroad? No, it was not legal to work

Add

Contact Us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Login/New Account

Individualized Directories :: Mailing List (news and/or posts)