Best year of my life! August 02, 2024
By A student (international Politics & Economics, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/22/2023 to 05/31/2024 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid
Very worthwhile since i learned how to live on my own
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I wish there were more activities hosted by the program and the groups were smaller. 75+ students was too much for the program and there was a drop in quality |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in an apartment. It was okay, it was definitely overpriced. Aluni was not responsive and only did cheap fixes |
| * Food: |
The quality of food was food and affordable. would eat out very often |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Did not really integrate myself with the culture. It was a bit difficult given that Spanish tend to keep to themselves |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
very affordable to get checked up. great international insurance from Middlebury |
| * Safety: |
never felt unsafe |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would have split it in half. Madrid one semester and another city another semester |
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) |
a bit hard since i would spend $50~ on groceries, $750~ on rent, $40~ on dining out |
| 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? | save as much as possible before studying abroad and get a good credit card (it will help save you money) |
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 |
5 |
| 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? | 300 |
| 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? | watch spanish shows |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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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? | how expensive it would be |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Art in the Prado |
| Course Department: | SPAN |
| Instructor: | Carlos Vela |
| Instruction Language: | |
| Comments: | It was a demanding class but it was fun |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no |
