Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Island Paradise May 29, 2024

By (Computer Science, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/15/2023 to 12/23/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Puerto Rico

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about myself and about the world outside of the US. it was awesome.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 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:

* 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 probably would choose a different program just to experience another part of the world.

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)

Spent so much money on food and transportation.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Not sure but probably like 100+
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook your own food and find a friend with a car.

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

They said to always use it.

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? I had completed a 300 level spanish class.
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* 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
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?
  • I liked our advisor she was so helpful
  • I enjoyed living near other students from my program
  • I like making new friends and seeing the island
* What could be improved?
  • The housing situation could be improved
  • Need to find better ways of transportation.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how hot it was and how much I would spend on food.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Imagen Digital
Course Department: Art
Instructor: Anna Nicholson
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was very good and gave me a lot of experience with the software we used. The teacher was awesome and understanding. Participated a little less, but it was really cool. Assessed project by project.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

SYSTEM AND NETWORK SECURITY

Course Department: Computer Science
Instructor: Humberto Ortiz
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was a pretty hard class that I didn't have all the necessary prerequisites for, but the professor was very understanding. We were graded with different coding assignments.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

Video Game Development
Course Department: Computer Science
Instructor: David Flores
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was super hard since the professor moved very fast. It was fun at first, but then we would always work in the same groups for assignments and the professor started to be less and less responsive and helpful.
Credit Transfer Issues: No