Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Ups and downs, but definitely worth it September 19, 2023

By (Latin American Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 03/06/2023 to 07/14/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Santiago

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Met cool people, learned more about myself and my values, and pushed myself out of my comfort zone, especially socially.

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:

Chilean cuisine is not that good; pretty bland. That being said, my host family cooked for me every day and it was good.

* 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? Yes

Some days were not super exciting and I definitely missed my friends, but I learned a lot and met a lot of really cool people.

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? When I wasn't traveling, I spent around $50-$60 a week. Travel brought the average weekly expenses up to over $100/week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Going out on weekends is way more expensive than at Midd, so choose your moments to go out instead of doing it 2-3 times every week.

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? 400-level
How many hours per day did you use the language?

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?
  • Santiago is a bustling city with lots to do and see
  • Found a local ultimate frisbee team that I got to practice and play with
  • Learned new perspectives in my classes and from peers
* What could be improved?
  • Dunno
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It really is never too late to meet new people and put yourself out there.

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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Semantica Espanola
Course Department: Letras
Instructor: Fredy Ñúnez
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was pretty challenging. Only 11 students made for a great atmosphere and the professor encouraged discussion, which seemed unusual for university in Chile. I participated a little less than at Midd just because I'm less comfortable with the language. The professor was really engaging though, and did a great job with including exchange students.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Lengua y Cultura Quechua
Course Department: Letras
Instructor: Alipio Pacheco
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was pretty challenging since Quechua is a very different language from English and Spanish, but the instruction was a little dull and unengaging.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Chile y América Indígena
Course Department: Historia
Instructor: Martín Lara
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The course content was interesting, but the class was large and students often appeared uninterested. The professor was very knowledgeable though.
Credit Transfer Issues: