Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An adventurous semester in a beautiful city Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/01/2019 to 06/16/2019 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Cordoba, Spain

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes! I had so much fun exploring a new place and learning about a different culture.

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.

Really depended on the class. Two of my classes were taught by very intelligent and motivated teachers, which made a big difference. There is a wide selection of classes to choose from and many are courses you wouldn't find at Middlebury. I will say, the negative is, It is difficult to adjust to an education system very different then ours where students mostly only care about get a passing grade and often do not attend class.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They are super nice and helpful if you ask for help. For a more independent student like me, it probably would have made more sense economically to direct enroll in the university.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in an old apartment that had a few small issues, but overall it was a nice space with kind roommates.

* Food:

Spanish food gets a bit repetitive, especially if you're a picky eater. But you can pretty much cook whatever you want if you go grocery shopping.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I made one very good spanish friend and had a few other spanish friends, but I could've done a better job at making an effort.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Staff helped me find a physical therapist. I went to the doctor several times and every time it was easy and efficient.

* Safety:

I felt completely comfortable walking around at any hour.

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

Cordoba is an incredible city to study abroad in. It's small enough that you can get to know it well and, especially in Spring, has tons of unique cultural festivals to enjoy. It also has a very interesting history and architecture.

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)

Cordoba is insanely cheap because of the economic crisis.

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

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • 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 city
* What could be improved?
  • Integration with locals
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Not to stress out about my grades.

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:

Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art
Course Department:
Instructor: Carmen Molina Barrea
Instruction Language:
Comments: The teacher is super passionate and knowledgeable and has very good command of the class. She is well organized and uses powerpoints. It was a ton of information about philosophers, and I realized I was not that interested in the material.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Oral Cultures
Course Department:
Instructor: Nereida Serrano Marquez and Juan Dios Lopez Lopes
Instruction Language:
Comments: This is an AMAZING class. You get to learn about the history of marginalized groups in Spain and then conduct an anthropology project where you interview someone and write their life story. The professors are super knowledgeable and passionate and love getting to know their students. They are also very understanding about foreign students who are working on their language skills.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Ethics and Responsability in Cultural Management
Course Department:
Instructor: Rafael Cerjudo Cordoba
Instruction Language:
Comments: The professor was passionate and knowledgeable, but the students were not engaged in the class. The professor's lectures were less structured and more discussion based, making it a bit hard to follow as a foreign student.
Credit Transfer Issues: