Un Estadouni-dense en Madrid Past Review
By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/01/2019 to 06/01/2019 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid
It all depends on you, but there's a certain maturity process that comes with living in a new culture and country. Spain, of course, is beautiful.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Great professors and administrators; other students were generally but not always pretty studious. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Fantástico. They're very nice folks. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It's a major city - it'll be tough. Do some research on homestay vs apt; and if you decide apt, make sure you like your neighborhood. |
| * Food: |
Genial. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
if you find some sort of group that you fit in with (ie a University club or roommates), you'll really get to see Spain in a non-academic context. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Madrid is very safe for a metropolitan city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Fantastic program, although I wouldn't want to take only courses at the Sede. A good mix would be to do UAM - Sede or Getafe Sede |
Finances
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* 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) |
Can be very expensive or very cheap. As the 1927 American classic from 'Big Boy,' tells us; It All Depends on You. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't eat (or drink too much) out and you'll save a lot of $. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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 |
| 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? | Try to make friends with your contacts at the Spanish University and try to limit your English, as to really improve your speaking. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Know that the language pledge isn't very followed here in Madrid, but the administrators, professors, and the city make it all very much worth it. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Art in Spain |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Prof Ruth |
| Instruction Language: | |
| Comments: | Awesome class |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Don Quixote |
| Course Department: | Spanish |
| Instructor: | Prof. Layna |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
