Hey guys! I’ve been weighing my options in terms of gap year programs. I have taken Spanish for 7 years and I would like to become fluent. Have any of you have had experience with some of these programs?:
-CIEE (Chile & Spain)
-EF (Madrid)
-El Casal (Barcelona)
-API
I like the program CIEE offers but I’ve seen some worrying reviews online. What programs do you like/recommend?
How about doing it on your own instead? You pay high tuition for a minimal amount of administrative support, whereas arranging it yourself - far easier than you might imagine - can be a growth experience and a heckuvalot cheaper.
@alcibiade While that’s a good idea, my parents aren’t really comfortable with my doing a gap year abroad completely on my own.
At any rate, good luck. You are going to have a life-changing experience.
I would suggest checking out AFS or YFU. Although they are expensive, they are reputable companies and may offer substantial scholarships depending on where you live. If you’re looking for a service-based project, check out Amigos de las américas. You can go to several Latino countries where you live with a host family and help out the community.
I can HIGHLY recommend CIEE. My daughter spent five months in Spain through their program. Yes, it’s not cheap, but it included everything, and I was so impressed with their professionalism and support. My D was only a 15-year-old HS sophomore. CIEE did a wonderful job of preparing her for the culture shock she would experience. I would use them again in a heartbeat.
@Snowee I actually used YFU to study abroad in Sweden, and frankly, I was not impressed with the quality of their services. Perhaps they’re better for the year-long programs, but I felt that for the price I did not receive the quality I would expect (for example, I didn’t get my flight information until less than 48 hours before I was supposed to leave). AFS is supposedly a better program; however, they have very limited programs in Latin America and Spain for those who would like to do a gap year. Amigos de las Américas sounds fantastic, but my mother did not feel comfortable sending me to Nicaragua (which is where their gap year program would be). Our school does a service trip there every summer, and during last summer’s trip they were carjacked and robbed at gunpoint- obviously, this does not mean that Nicaragua is an unsafe place, but we’re a small town and it was felt acutely in the community.
At this point I am trying to decide between API’s gap year at Antonio de la Nebrija university in Madrid and the freshman year abroad option (which I would do as a gap year) at the University of Edinburgh (my guidance counselor suggested I look at an English-speaking option). I am leaning towards Madrid, because I know more people in Spain, and…well, I already speak English! Thank you for everybody who offered advice! I really appreciate it 