Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Immersive and rewarding by academically challenging August 08, 2023

By (Health Sciences General, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/27/2023 to 07/15/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Valparaiso

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes it was worthwhile. I had the full immersion experience I was looking for.

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 think I would have like to have more life-school balance to be able to travel more. The final evaluations and essays for the program were all-consuming and the most work I have ever had to complete at the end of a semester

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? ~$30 USD
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? N/A

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? 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? 400 Level Course at Middlebury
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
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?
  • the country
  • my host family
  • my new friends
* What could be improved?
  • Progam management
  • Organization between Middlebury and host university
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that only two of my classes would be at the university and the rest would be managed by Middlebury.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Enfermería en el Ciclo Vital
Course Department: Nursing
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This class was the core class of the 2nd year nursing program and the class and specifically the exams were designed such that students just barely passed. This was incredibly difficult coming from a US university where actual grades matter.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

Enfermería en la Promoción y Prevención de Salud
Course Department: Nursing
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Involved lots of group work, but was very interesting and exams/evaluations were reasonable and manageable
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A