Is airfare included?
No - You are responsible for your own airfare. We recommend www.travelocity.com or www.studentuniverse.com.

Is housing included in the price of the program?
Yes - You will have your own room in a shared apartment. Elect to live with other Adelante candidates or with Spanish roommates (remember, the Spanish roommates will not be Spanish students, rather Spanish people that we know who rent out rooms to us for this program. This option is best for people who have traveled and lived abroad before, and are fairly independent).

When does my actual internship work assignment begin?
Program start dates are the first Monday of each month. For the first two weeks you are enrolled in intensive Spanish language classes for about 4 hours per day, 5 days per week. After this intensive course, and after an Orientation at the company where you will be working, you start your work assignment on the third Monday of the month. Plan on arriving in Spain the weekend prior to the first Monday of the month, and plan on leaving the weekend after the last Friday of the month.

What are the apartments like & where are they located?
We have several apartments ranging from 2 and 5 bedrooms, with 1 and 2 bathrooms. All are in desirable areas of Madrid, with proximity to a Metro stop a given. The "center" of Madrid is huge and our apartments are all located within this "central" area in the heart of Madrid. You will always have your own room.

(Note: In Madrid, some apartments require a $100 deposit to be made upon your arrival. This will be returned to you when you turn in your keys on the day of your departure from the program, assuming you have left the apartment in the same condition that it was in when you moved in.)

All apartments are fully furnished, with most having washing machine, microwave, radio, etc. Sheets, towels, pots, pans are also included.

Do I have to have insurance?
YES - It is strongly recommended that you have insurance. More and more participating companies and institutions abroad are asking for proof of medical and accident insurance and our various Directors in-country also may ask you for proof of insurance (usually a copy of your insurance card showing dates and coverage is valid). You can use coverage you already have or coverage that someone else carries for you, or you can purchase coverage just for our program. You can also buy insurance online once you arrive in Spain. In the past, we have referred people to Arizona-based ASA, Inc. - they can customize a plan for you based on details you provide. (see our 'Links' page for more information). Tell them that Adelante sent you for a small discount 888-272-8288. Another carrier is Insurance Services of America also based in Arizona. They can be reached at 800-647-4589.

Another possibility is purchasing insurance once in Spain. Two companies are Mapfre Insurance Co. and Sanitas www.sanitas.es. The cost is about $45 - $50US per month. Basic medical and accident insurance is all you need. You may have to take out a year policy, pay month by month and stop when you are ready to go home.

Are any of the internships paid internships?
All internship positions are unpaid. On a case by case basis, some positions may offer a small weekly stipend, however there is no guarantee. If you do receive a small amount it will be an added bonus to an already great program, and if you don't, it will be what you expected and budgeted for upon applying for the program.

Is placement guaranteed?
Depends - We work with hundreds of companies nationwide and to date we have been able to place 100% of our candidates in the field they requested. However, if you want to do an internship that requires specific experience or qualifications you must be able to fulfill those requirements. For example, if you want to do a Paramedic internship and have no CPR training, no medical education, no EMT training, then chances are good you will not be placed in that sector.

Do I need a work visa or a student visa?
Work visas are never required for any of our programs. These are academic, apprenticeship programs. Student visas are required for programs longer than 3 months. Click here for more information on visas.

Can I stay longer than 3 months?
Yes! - We encourage all candidates to stay as long as possible for the most in-depth cultural immersion and language acquisition. Click here for more information on visas.

How much should I budget for living expenses per month, above and beyond what is included in the program fee?
$300 - $400 per month gives you some breathing room to travel a bit, go to the movies or theatre and have some fun nights out. You can go shoestring & make it less, or go shopping-spree-happy & make it more (great leather and 18K gold in Spain for a lot less than you'll pay here).

Is there an Adelante contact in Spain?
Yes - In Madrid, Adelante has two-person teams available for ongoing support during your time in our program: our Director, who is in charge of everything that has to do with your program, including airport pick-up, your housing, your language classes, the entire program in general; and our Intern Advisor, who is in charge of everything that has to do specifically with your Internship. You will meet with both during week one and have access to both as needed for the duration of your program.

Can I contact a past or existing Adelante candidate as a reference?
Yes - Please take a look at our Online Community site to see entries from our candidates past and present. This site is a live resource Adelante created based on requests from our candidates.  It is a useful tool for anyone looking to participate in our program or any other trip abroad.

Is Adelante an employment agency?
No - We are a company that offers, among other things, a fee-based placement services program that works with people who are 1) seeking to massively upgrade their resumes, 2) wish to become bilingual and, 3) have a desire to live and learn the Spanish culture.

What is the deadline for Application packet submissions?
60 days prior to your desired start date is the ideal. However we may be able, on a case-by-case basis, to place candidates who submit their applications later than that.

When will I know if I am accepted into the program or not?
Once you have submitted a completed Application Packet, someone from the main office will contact you to set up a phone interview. This takes approximately 30-40 minutes.??? This is not a competitive program whereby candidates compete against each other or compete for a limited number of spots. Rather, during the interview process a mutual decision is made to determine that you are the right candidate profile for what you want to do for your internship program in Spain (see the "Is placement guaranteed" question above). After the phone interview, your references are checked and usually then we can accept you into the program.

Are only Americans admitted to this program?
No - Our only requirement is that you speak English, to be able to communicate with both Adelante Headquarters and our in-country staff who are required to speak both their native language and English. We have placed candidates from all over the world, including Britain, Japan, Australia,  India, Canada and more. Please check any visa requirements for your nationality.  

Is there a refund policy?
If you cancel your participation in the program 45 days prior to your start date or earlier, you will receive a 100% refund of the program fee. If you cancel 30 - 45 days prior to your start date, you will receive a 50% refund. If you cancel 0 - 30 days prior to your start date, there will be 0% refund as well as if you cancel at any time following your arrival in Spain. The $100 application fee is non-refundable.

When is payment for the program due?
Payment in full is due no later than 45 days prior to your desired start date in the program. Invoices are sent via email about 7-10 days before payment is due.

Can I be placed if I speak no Spanish at all?
Ideally our candidates have some Spanish language capabilities, the more the better. For candidates who are truly beginner level, the only options available are some of the Teaching English work assignments. Inquire for more details.

Do candidates receive any kind of certificate, letter of recommendation or 'proof of internship'?
While this is not included in the program fee, both the participating companies and the language schools in all countries are willing to create these for successful candidates. You must secure these PRIOR to your return home, as once you are gone it is quite difficult to get these letters. Please request in advance any letters needed and remind as necessary in order to have these documents in order before you leave your intern position.

Can I receive academic credit for participating in this program?
Yes – many candidates choose to receive credit for participating in an Adelante internship program. Credit is issued from the candidate’s own university. Every university or school has different requirements to receive accreditation for a program abroad, so candidates must contact the appropriate person or department (eg. Study Abroad Office, Career Services, Department Chair), to find out what is needed for them to receive credit. For the International Internship Program usually a minimum number of hours must be completed in order to receive credit. In some cases a course number is given to the internship program and credit is issued that way. Adelante will assist with and complete any extra required paperwork or evaluations prior to, during and at the end of the international program, so long as all documentation is received in a timely manner. 

What should I pack?
Once you are accepted into the program we send out a comprehensive Pre-Departure Orientation Packet that will include information on what to pack and much more. It is required reading! Some initial tips on what to take are as follows: the apartments are fully equipped, so no need to worry about sheets, towels, pots, pans etc. For your internship, pack casual business clothes such as slacks/skirts, collared shirts and black leather shoes (comfortable as you will walk and use public transport every day.) No jeans or tennis shoes during any interaction with your Spanish company. For your own travel and leisure time, wear what you want and you can visit any number of websites to check on weather for any given month.

My friend and I would like to do the program together. Can we live in the same housing?
YES - Usually we can accommodate a request for candidates to live together. It will be dependent on availability, so the sooner your completed application packets are received, the better chance you have of being able to live together.