Study Abroad Program Evaluation

Your name:

Local phone:

E-mail address:

Your class standing at start of program: Choose Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior

Semester and year you were abroad:

Sponsoring organization:

Program Location (city, country):

Specific program or university name: (if different from the
sponsoring organization)

Major Primary Academic Area of Study While Abroad

1) Would you be willing to discuss your experience with other
students who are interested in the program? (check all that apply)

Yes, through e-mail Yes, by phone. No, I prefer not to be contacted by other students.

2) In general, would you recommend this program? yes no

Please comment:

A. PRE-PROGRAM ASPECTS

1. Did your program provide you with adequate information before the program began?
Yes No

2. What do you wish you had known beforehand about your program or about the
country in which you studied?

3. Was there an orientation for your program when you arrived? Yes No
If yes, please rate the following aspects of the orientation:

My on-site orientation helped me to understand:

a. Basic cultural differences in my host country Choose Not at all Little bit OK Good Very good
b. Some of the common challenges students face entering my host
country's culture Choose Not at all Little bit OK Good Very good
c. Strategies for succeeding in my host country's culture Choose Not at all Little bit OK Good Very good
d. The different academic expectations in my host country Choose Not at all Little bit OK Good Very good
e. Strategies for succeeding in a new academic system Choose Not at all Little bit OK Good Very good
f. Safety & security issues in my host country Choose Not at all Little bit OK Good Very good

4. Other comments or suggestions about your preparation and orientation:

B. THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM

1. Please rate your academic experiences on your study abroad program:


More independent work outside the classroom was expected of students
than at Skidmore. Choose Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree Not applicable
The program was intellectually challenging. Choose Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree Not applicable

The quality of instruction was comparable to Skidmore or better.
Choose Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree Not applicable

The academic ability of fellow students was comparable to or higher
than the academic ability of students at Skidmore. Choose Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree Not applicable

The instructors were available outside the classroom. Choose Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree Not applicable

I could get the courses that I wanted. Choose Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree Not applicable

It was challenging to adjust to the different academic expectations. Choose Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree Not applicable

The course work was more difficult than course work at Skidmore. Choose Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree Not applicable

What a student gets out of this program academically is directly related to
the amount of effort a student puts into his or her courses. Choose Strongly disagree Disagree Agree Strongly agree Not applicable

2. Which courses, departments, or fields of study do you feel were especially
strong on your program?

3. Are there courses, departments, or fields of study that you think students
should avoid? Which ones and why?

4. Other comments concerning the academics on this program?

C. HOUSING AND FOOD

1. What was your housing situation? Homestay Apartment
Student Residence Board Other Please describe:

2. Did you encounter any significant problems with housing?
Yes No

If yes, please describe:

3. If you stayed with a host family, how did this affect your overall study
abroad experience?

4. If meals were not included in your program fee, approximately how much money
did you spend on food each week? US$

5. Were your housing and meal arrangements adequate for your needs?
Yes No

Why or why not?

Other comments on your living situation.

D. ON-SITE RESOURCES

1. Which support services did your program have?
program director university international students office
fully staffed program center/office other Please describe:

2. Which of these services did you utilize most frequently?

3. Briefly and honestly describe your reactions to the program director or other
support services. Was s/he accessible? Interested in students? Helpful?
Able to get things done? Perceptive of student needs? A good advisor? etc…

4. If problems arose on the program, were they adequately resolved?
Yes No If not, please explain:

5. Please rate each of the following on-site resources:

Academic advising Choose Not available Available but I did not use Used and my satisfaction was low Used and my satisfaction was average Used and my satisfaction was high
Library resources Choose Not available Available but I did not use Used and my satisfaction was low Used and my satisfaction was average Used and my satisfaction was high
Emergency help Choose Not available Available but I did not use Used and my satisfaction was low Used and my satisfaction was average Used and my satisfaction was high
Medical services Choose Not available Available but did not use Used and my satisfaction was low Used and my satisfaction was average Used and my satisfaction was high
Personal counseling Choose Not available Available but I did not use Used and my satisfaction was low Used and my satisfaction was average Used and my satisfaction was high
Recreational facilities Choose Not available Available but I did not use Used and my satisfaction was low Used and my satisfaction was average Used and my satisfaction was high
Computing facilities Choose Not available Available but I did not use Used and my satisfaction was low Used and my satisfaction was average Used and my satisfaction was high

6. If you marked "low" for any resources listed in #5, please explain
your response.

7. Please comment on how campus and/or program resources abroad differ
from similar resources provided in the U.S. How did you adapt to this difference?

E. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

1. What was the composition of the students participating in your program?
Mostly U.S. International

2. What was the composition of the individuals with whom you had regular daily contact?

Mostly U.S. International Mostly native citizens

3. Please rate the extent of your interaction with the host culture
(1- not at all 5-a great deal):

Individual contact with host country nationals Choose Not at all Little bit Some A great deal
Overall immersion in host country culture Choose Not at all Little bit Some A great deal

4. Were you satisfied with the opportunities for cultural immersion provided
by your program?
Yes No If not, please explain:

5. What types of excursions were provided by your program?

6. What was your language proficiency before the program began? Choose Poor Fair Good Excellent
What was your proficiency after the program? Choose Poor Fair Good Excellent

7. How much difference do you think your language proficiency made in
what you gained from your total experience abroad? Choose No difference Little difference Some difference Tremendous difference
Please explain:

F. OVERALL EVALUATION OF YOUR TIME ABROAD

1. On a scale of 1 [low] to 10 [high], how would you rate your study abroad
program? (e.g. the program sponsor and organized program)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2. Would you recommend this particular program to other students?
Why or why not?

3. What was the best aspect of your personal study abroad experience?

4. What was the most difficult aspect of your personal study abroad experience?

5. What would be the single most important piece of advice you would give to
a prospective participant considering this study abroad?

G. Please add any final remarks you have on your study
abroad program.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMENTS!

Please or