Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Confidence Booster! June 30, 2026

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/13/2026 to 05/21/2026 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained some really great friends from a variety of US universities. I also learned a lot about the Spanish culture and how to navigate differences in social norms.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Very academically rigorous, but not overwhelmingly so. Most of the challenge came from adjusting to a different educational system and style, but the Middlebury staff were very understanding and helped with this transition.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

All of the Middlebury staff are wonderful, kind people. They are responsive and always willing to help, even sometimes outside of office hours.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved my host family! They already had experience hosting American students, so they were fully prepared to help me navigate Spanish culture, but they also respected any cultural differences that arose. They were always happy to engage with me and go out together, but they also respected my privacy and alone time.

* Food:

Honestly, a lot of the food was not what I expected it to be. In general, the food was not as flavorful as I had imagined, but it was much healthier than the food in the US and I think it was really good for my health. That being said, shoutout to the Spanish omelets -- one of my new favorite dishes!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I would have liked to have gotten to know more Spaniards my age, but I felt fully integrated into my host family and very comfortable navigating social interactions with the locals by the end of the semester.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Super easy to make a doctor's appointment! I had to wait about three weeks to see a specialist (which is not a long wait at all compared to the US), but when I did, I was given excellent, attentive care and was able to make a follow-up appointment for the next week.

* Safety:

I never felt unsafe, even when walking alone at 1 am.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

This program was phenomenal. Not just for improving my Spanish, but also for developing my social skills, overcoming my anxiety, and gaining the ability to travel independently.

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)

I'm not sure how to answer this question because I was not operating under a tight budget, and thus had a lot of freedom to eat and do whatever I wanted. In general, I did notice that the prices for food and attractions were lower than in the US (a movie was about 8 euros, for example), and it was easy to find cheap food if you were looking for it. Middlebury offers different meal plans for those who stay with host families, which can be very helpful.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Probably 200 euros or slightly more
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Lots of attractions and activities have student discounts! Bring your college ID from home, because Middlebury does not give you a physical ID card unless you also take classes at the local universities.

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

We literally could have gotten kicked out of the program for speaking English! It was a great way to practice my Spanish, and I made significant improvements because I continued to practice outside of the classroom.

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
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Stick to the language pledge, please! It really makes a difference, and it's super easy to slack off once you start breaking it. I learned equally as much Spanish from talking to my friends as I did in the classrooms.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • My peers.
  • My host family.
  • The museums and other cultural activities.
* What could be improved?
  • Some specific classes need to be organized better.
  • There should be opportunities to meet locals outside of the cultural exchange program.
  • The requirements for the cultural reimbursements are not super clear and a bit too narrow in my opinion.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Air-drying your clothes changes their texture!! I wouldn't recommend bringing anything super delicate or important to you. Also, if you are super pale, you may want to bring your own sunblock instead of buying in Spain -- most of Europe doesn't seem to offer anything higher than SPF 50.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!