Best College Semester You Could Ever Have

My time in Barcelona through IES Abroad was absolutely phenomenal. I was looking to study abroad but as a rehabilitation psychology major, I worried that I would not be able to find a program that fit my specific major. However, with the IES Liberal Arts program in Barcelona, I was able to complete classes that would allow me to take classes that counted toward my degree. I hadn't been abroad before either, but after I got there and saw how beautiful the city was and the people there waiting to welcome me, I had no worries at all. I had a host mom and lived in an apartment in Lesseps, a neighborhood of Barcelona (as well as a metro stop). She helped me practice my Spanish and become acquainted with the city. My classes at IES were conveniently located right in the center of the city. I only had a little Spanish before coming to this program, so I took all my classes in English-- but by the time I left, my Spanish had improved tremendously. I can call my host mom now and have a conversation with her with no difficulty whatsoever. IES also offered subsidized programs as well, which I highly recommend! I was so surprised at how many students did not take advantage of those Friday or weekend trips. They plan Friday outings or full weekend trips for you to go on and you only pay a subsidized fee for the entire thing-- and they take care of everything for you so you can just enjoy it! All in all, I highly recommend studying abroad in Barcelona. It is an experience that cannot be compared to the average semester on your home campus. Studying abroad is a journey that gives you so many opportunities that you wouldn't be able to have otherwise. If you're considering study abroad, I can't recommend this program and city highly enough. It's a memory of my life that I treasure every single day.