Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Not all butterflies and rainbows Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 07/26/2017 to 12/15/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Santiago

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Learned a lot about being out of my comfort zone. Yes it was worthwhile

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

Chilean education was unstructured and for that reason stressful. I don't like host families.

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? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't eat out or shop for ridiculous things

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
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? high levels and native home speaking
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • Coordinators
  • School funded trips
  • cultural mentors
* What could be improved?
  • More support from country's universities
  • more housing options (i.e. not being required to be with a host family)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That studying abroad with a host family, despite being far from home, often feels like less independence.

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:

Gender and ethnikcity
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Not so challenging. Class hardly encouraged participation. Not much homework. Interesting readings and knowledgable professor.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Philosophy and Gender
Course Department:
Instructor: Olga Grau
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Relatively challenging. Somewhat unfocused and disorganized.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Independent study
Course Department:
Instructor: PRISCILA PAZ GONZALEZ BADILLA
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Great professor, knowledgable, passionate, helpful.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Maternity: Perspectives from history of women
Course Department:
Instructor: Margarita Iglesias
Instruction Language: Span
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: