Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Mate, futbol y carneeee! Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 03/01/2017 to 07/21/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Buenos Aires

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
A whole new perspective on life, politics, and values from a different culture. As well as lasting friendships.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

BEST host sister ever!!!

* Food:

Soooo delicious, but it can be a little heavy after a while--lots of red meat!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

It was very easily accessible. I had no problem and did visit both a doctor and a hospital during my time.

* Safety:

It felt very safe depending on the area of the city. Just be a little extra careful after midnight.

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

I was happy to have the language pledge to force me to practice. I also loved my classes friends and the culture.

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)

Food and living costs are generally much cheaper in Argentina than in the US, so that was easy.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Maybe $40-$50?
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Definitely find an atm near you that lets you take out a pretty high maximum because it will charge you every time you take money out.

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

We kept to the language pledge the whole time.

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? 350
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? I started watching a series in Spanish and read a book for fun. But the most helpful thing is just to talk to people!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* 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 people.
  • They helped/guided us but we still had independence.
  • The language pledge.
* What could be improved?
  • It was a little disorganized at times.
  • I would have liked to have done another trip/outing with the group.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? To relax about grades! I was so worried and I ended up with the same good grades I get at home.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Política Exterior Argentina
Course Department: International Studies
Instructor: Francisco Corigliano
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: There are really only two papers for this course, so overall the work load is not too heavy. However, the two papers require an extreme amount of detail and time. I really enjoyed the class though and learned a lot about Argentina's history.
Credit Transfer Issues: No--it transferred just fine!