Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Confusing and challenging but memorable August 29, 2023

By (Political Science, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/17/2023 to 05/31/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was worthwhile in gaining new experiences. However, it was a very challenging experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

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:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

I would not do the same program because I felt like the Middlebury program offered me less guidance than what I expected. My housing ended up being overpriced and far outside the city. I felt like I was not prepped well for my host university experience and did not end up having a very positive experience with those classes.

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? 200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I would recommend creating a budget for the semester and paying for all trips ahead of time.

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? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 300 course at Middlebury
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? Living with a host family is a good way to use your Spanish more often on the daily.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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?
  • I liked the people in my program.
  • I liked the location (Madrid).
* What could be improved?
  • The introduction to my host school was not very supportive.
  • The program could be more helpful with finding housing.
  • I felt like the admin of the Midd Institute created a somewhat hostile environment.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how expensive it would be to travel and how hard it would be to integrate into the social scene in the program without traveling.

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:

Patologias de informacion

Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: This class was interesting because it discussed a lot of American media. It was challenging in that it was a big lecture without accommodations for international students.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

Arte y patrimonio
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: I liked this class and the professors were very helpful and understanding for international students. It was a smaller class that was more interactive. it was challenging in that the lectures were fast paced but the professors were skilled lecturers.
Credit Transfer Issues: no