Study Abroad in Barcelona, Spain

This program was overall excellent, the ISA staff was helpful before, during, and after my time abroad. I was situated in a safe, fun neighborhood right next to a metro stop with great girls that shared a lot of interests with me. The weekly emails from ISA about cultural activities were always fun and gave us ideas of things to see and do. I felt very prepared after the advice from ISA and orientation and if there was ever a problem the staff were extremely nice and supportive. Classes were interesting and diverse and school was not hard to find. Overall, this was a great program and I would not change anything!

Program is a little disorganized in terms of excursions, but staff was friendly and helpful. Would recommend taking care of any academic issues BEFORE departure, since it may mess you up when you're trying to start classes (not necessarily the fault of ISA Barcelona, maybe ISA in general?). I didn't have any issues with the program; only true con I would give is that the program for Barcelona was huge and impersonal (since cliques form quickly with so many students)... would have liked a smaller program that offered same things. Academics: Courses and difficulty will vary; both campuses for international students were located within the city (not at Bellaterra where the locals attend class) and were easy to get to,. Staff made sure we knew the process for adding/dropping classes before they started. Living Situation: I was with a homestay. Locations and families can vary greatly (so include your preferences if you have any). My biggest concern was not having internet at my homestay, since that was an extra hassle I had to deal with. Cultural Immersion: I really enjoyed the tours and excursions put on by ISA, however they were not always the most organized! Buses were frequently late, cutting our day short, which was the main irritating aspect of trips. We never left without students if they were late to arrive, which I think was unfair for those of us who had shown up on time. However I would still take advantage of anything offered as it is all included in the program price. The tours within Barcelona were very good with informed, passionate guides. Excursions are a little structured, usually with a tour or activity, and then there is free time to explore on your own (although why always during siesta time when everything is closed?) Program Administration: ISA Barcelona office is located in the city center, and the staff is accessible after-hours if there is an emergency. The office had a lot of good resources (computers to use internet although it was unreliable, and you can print too; DVDs and books if you want to borrow something). I thought the staff was always happy to help if I had any issues, and they were friendly and made the effort to remember students' names which was nice.

My study abroad experience in Barcelona through ISA changed my life entirely. When I was searching places to study abroad, I was trying to find a place that push my boundaries as well as having some elements that made me feel comfortable. I grew up in a small town, so I knew I wanted to try out a big city, which would make me feel very out of element. However, I knew I wanted to live somewhere that was a little like home, so it had to be on water. Barcelona, was the city I was looking for and more in that sense because it was a huge city, with water, beaches, and mountains. Once I knew the location, I had to find a program. I was recommended to go through ISA from my brother's roommate, who said he had a great experience. I was already looking at other programs when he recommended ISA, so I had to make a couple lists comparing other programs. At the end, ISA had the most benefits with it's cost of the program. It was also one of the most reasonably priced with everything it included. Excursions to 3 different places, housing, and the readily available on-site staff made it a clear choice. Academics: I've never learned so much in such little time. My relationship with my professor made my learning experience unforgettable. She truly wanted us to learn the language and the culture. I've never felt so challenged. However, it was in a way where I knew it wasn't just about passing the test, it was about learning this language in a way I would remember it for life. The small classroom size was perfect for being accountable and feeling comfortable enough to speak up even if you knew you might be wrong. Living situation: Going in alone, without anyone friends, was a great decision. My only regret is not doing a homestay to expand my language skills. However, living in apartment was a great real world experience of what it was like living in another country. ISA set up everything so it was easy to jump right in. Cultural immersion: ISA did set up events where you could be culturally immersed. Their intercambio program helped me improve my language so much because I was talking with someone one-on-one, instead of being in a classroom where a teacher can't correct your every sentence. I also formed a great friendship. However, I do think I could have done more myself to become more culturally immersed. Program Administration: The ISA on-site staff were some of the nicest people I've ever met. They were also extremely helpful with any questions I had. The ISA staff, in the U.S. and abroad, stick out because they truly want you to go abroad and have that experience, and are willing to help in any way possible for you to do that. Health and safety: I did not have any health issues abroad, but I felt very safe in the neighborhood I was located in. Social life: Barcelona is fantastic in the social life aspect, because it is a very social city, where you can go out a lot if you want to. However, there are lots of opportunities where there are activities that aren't going to a club, you can go to watch a movie in a park or at an old castle. There are a million of opportunities.