Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Madrid: Tortilla and late-night city strolls. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/25/2016 to 06/06/2016 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes, absolutely - I mostly learned how to be a self-sufficient adult and balance a 25-hour-a-week internship with 3 classes.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had a terrible experience with a crazy flatmate near the end of my time abroad, and had to flee the premises, but it was ultimately my own fault for not having been more discriminating when choosing housing.

* Food:

Difficult to be a vegetarian when eating out

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Very integrated - Spanish fluency helped.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Program staff were very helpful when I approached them with health concerns.

* Safety:

Madrid is quite safe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I'd go to South America and live in a smaller city - better food, and I am happier when I can more easily escape the urban setting.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ~$150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy food at fruterias and cook at home. If you drink, buy beer at corner stores, Dia or Carrefour. Bars are more expensive. Travel long distances by bus, it's cheaper than renfe - but the Cercanias renfe trains are great.

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? 300s level
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Live with native Spanish-speakers!!!!!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Language Immersion
  • International Friends
  • New Culture
* What could be improved?
  • More helpers for student housing search at beginning!!!
  • Less "mandatory" program-based events, field trips, meetings, etc.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Spaniards are not the friendliest people in the world.

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:

Utopias
Course Department: Humanities
Instructor: Juan José Tamayo
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: I LOVED this course, because the prof. was incredible and readings were engaging.
Credit Transfer Issues: Nope.
Course Name/Rating:

Problemas Sociales III
Course Department: Sociology
Instructor: Segundo Valmorisco Pizarro
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Prof. was a sweetheart, but course and readings were quite boring and students weren't engaged.
Credit Transfer Issues: Nope.
Course Name/Rating:

Human Rights in Film
Course Department: Humanities
Instructor: Maria Something
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Quite easy and somewhat interesting - we mostly watched films.
Credit Transfer Issues: Nope.