Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Resilience Past Review

By (Study Abroad, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/12/2018 to 07/16/2018 with

API (Academic Programs International): Santiago - Universidad Alberto Hurtado

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Strength and Courage.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I think that Chile offered a very holistic educational experience.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Amazing program staff.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had to switch my host family at the halfway mark of the experience.

* Food:

Chilean cuisine is very bland, so it was hard for me to adjust.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt like I made many friends outside of my university.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had multiple health issues in Chile, and I was pleased to be so well attended.

* Safety:

Very safe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

It was difficult, but I needed to go through what I went through to become who I am right now.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

CSantiago is much more expensive than other Chilean cities. This needs to be factored in for students.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $35

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Span 445
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Dedicate yourself.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The program staff
  • The excursions
  • The connections I made
* What could be improved?
  • Ending the program at least a week before departure date
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The majority of one's learning happens outside the classroom

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Anthropology 101
Course Department: Anthropology
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Very poor class with lack of structure. Do not recommend to anyone.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Chilean Culture
Course Department: N/A
Instructor: Juan Pastene
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This course was great for introducing cultural aspects of Chile.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Social and Political History of Chile
Course Department: History
Instructor: Francisco Vidal
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Challenging, but very informative. The professor was knowledgeable and well-prepared. There were exams in this class.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Independant Study
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This experience was not a great one, seeing as I had to change my project advisor 3/4 of the way through. Old advisor was very busy and did not prioritize my work.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Internship
Course Department:
Instructor: FOSIS
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Very poor structure. Work objectives were not clear.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.