Madrid is Amazing! Past Review
By Taylor C (Neurobiology, Harvard University) for
Boston University: Madrid - Internship Program, Summer
Yes, it was absolutely worthwhile! It confirmed my desire to become a pediatrician.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
There was very little discussion in my courses; they were almost completely lecture format. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
One weakness was that because of the five-hour workdays for internships plus the class in the evenings, we did not have much free time on weekdays to sightsee. Strengths included the group trips and practicing Spanish. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was treated as a family member. |
| * Food: |
Everything is cooked with oil! But everything is delicious. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The Prado! And we went on group trips to Sevilla, Segovia, and Toledo. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Men are very bold, so girls should be prepared to be approached and told how beautiful they are (especially blondes). But they all seemed harmless. Watch out for pickpockets everywhere! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy souvenirs early, so you're not scrambling to get something for your family on the last day! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 90dq |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I needed the host country language every day, to speak at my internship and with my host family. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Organize groups to travel around Spain. Take the Cercanias train to as many places as possible, it's only a few Euro and you can see El Escorial, Avila, Aranjuez, etc. Buy the audioguides because you will be reimbursed by BU. |
