amazing Past Review
By Daniella I Apodaca (Columbia University) - abroad from 08/20/2018 to 12/22/2018 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid
It was incredibly worthwhile and I learned a lot about Spanish living day-to-day
Review Photos
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? |
|
| * Food: |
very cheap and easy to find |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Got lots of exposure but would've liked to become better friends with local students |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The administrators were very helpful in making me a doctor's appointment and followed up with me |
| * Safety: |
incredibly safe; probably one of the only places where you feel safe walking late at night |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This program gave a good mix of getting to integrate with a local university but also having the support (as well as some classes) from an American college |
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) |
living in Madrid was cheap, but traveling was expensive |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 80-100 USD |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you look for cheap housing, you can find it! Grocery stores are very cheap and helpful in saving money |
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? | Fluent |
| 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? | 3rd year in college (but was fluent to begin with) |
| 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? | It's all about how much you personally push yourself to speak. Find a conversation partner! |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Stay the first few weekends in the city to get to know it, and then take the opportunity to travel |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
