A Life-Changing Semester Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes are fairly easy in comparison to the coursework I am accustomed to at my home university, but the professors are knowledgeable in their subjects and the class sizes are small. The art classes in particular are fantastic, as they take place in the Prado and Reina Sofia museums and you get to see the art in front of you as you learn about it!

On-site administration of your program

The staff at IES Madrid is incredible. They are all extremely friendly and eager to get to know each student as a person- they had all of our names memorized Day 1! One thing that impressed me was how hard they work to get everyone matched into classes they want. I was on the waitlist for 4 out of the 5 classes I ended up taking: they got me into every class I wanted! The staff also puts a lot of effort into extracurricular activities and program-lead trips to places that a typical abroad student might not know to visit.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with a wonderful host mom and another American student. I think living in a homestay is the best way to get immersed in the Spanish culture. She spoke to my roommate and I exclusively in Spanish and helped our language capabilities immensely. I learned a lot about Spain and the culture through our conversations, and got to know a network of other Spaniards through meeting her neighbors and extended family. My roommate and I each had our own bedrooms and had a separate bathroom, and the apartment was always extremely clean. I was in a safe neighborhood, very close to a lot of restaurants and shops and walking distance to school.

To be completely honest, I was a little nervous about my food situation in Spain (I'm a vegetarian). However, my host mom was very accommodating to my food needs and still made me traditional Spanish dishes, just often substituting meat or fish with eggs or beans. She also was very flexible with letting us use her kitchen to make dinners at night.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The drastic improvement in my Spanish speaking capabilities really allowed me to communicate well with local Spaniards.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not need any vaccines specifically for this program, and while I was there no prevalent health issues in the country were brought to my attention. I used the healthcare system while I was in Madrid, and IES staff found me an English-speaking doctor and was extremely helpful in facilitating my experience. It was a very easy and stress-free process.

I felt safer in Madrid than I feel in American cities. I never once felt threatened or unsafe, and I never got pick-pocketed or robbed. That being said, it's always a good idea to walk home in groups at night, and to keep an eye on your belongings. I felt very safe and at home here though.

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

I found Madrid very affordable for students, especially considering the status of the Euro in comparison to the US Dollar and to the Pound in the UK. Groceries were inexpensive, and most museums and attractions had either free admittance for students or discounted prices.

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

The staff were very good at strongly encouraging students to only speak Spanish on program trips and in IES university buildings.

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• Host Family

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• Americans
• Host Family

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• Americans

• Madrid itself
• The amazing staff
• Program-lead trips and activities

• Amount of Spanish spoken among American students
• Difficulty of classes

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer