Santiago, the perfect location for weekend travels throughout South America! Past Review
By Daniel N (Business Marketing, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 08/02/2012 to 12/04/2012 with
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile: Santiago - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
The biggest thing that I picked up from my study abroad experience was the enormous contrast in culture that Latin America has in comparison to the United States. In Chile, as well as other countries we were able to visit in South America we were able to speak with locals and learned the value of family and the importance that this plays in their everyday activities. I learned different viewpoints everywhere I went on every topic imaginable and grew as an individual beyond my expectations.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The hardest thing for me during this semester wasn't the language as much as the change of teaching style from the United States to Chile. Where we learn more about who, what, when, where, why, and how, they focus solely on how to implement what you learn into situations. Instead of answering short answers in definition-like responses, we were first told to read an article and explain how we would apply A, B, or C directly to that one situation. After the first exam, I learned what the tests were like and was able to alter my studying to focus in that specific way. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Definitely look up housing before you get into Chile if you are trying to live with another person! We had this trouble at first but were able to get lucky with a steal after going to 50+ apartments that were either booked or unavailable for the months we asked just because we were 2 students rather than one looking to live in the same apartment. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
One of the things that really helped us was the ability to find cheap housing! Because of this, we were able to add a couple weekend trips. If I were to have stayed in Santiago alone, I am sure I would have saved money! |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Restaurants cost about the same as the states, but groceries are a lot cheaper! Toiletries were more expensive so pack well on deodorant, shampoo, etc if you want your American brands. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Get in tune with the locals! I personally didn't spend too much time with the locals, but I'm sure if I had done so my Spanish would have improved even more than what I am accustomed to speaking! If you want to learn the language, become one with the culture and you will be speaking like a true Chilean within a month's time! |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | There isn't much I wish I would have known before I went on the program. The University of Texas did a great job at preparing us with what to expect while being abroad and gave us the opportunity to meet up with students that had previously done the same program. Because of these things, we were one step ahead and had a good grasp at what to expect in Santiago. |
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 AdventurerThe 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: |
Monografico Quijote |
| Course Department: | Letras |
| Instructor: | Teresa Calderon |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | I loved this class! The professor is/was a famous poet in Chile and has a passion for Don Quijote de la Mancha that I have never seen with any other professor and the book they teach. She is very invested in getting you to know this book that is a giant piece of Latin American culture and tries to teach you the reasonings behind certain phrases or quotes within the book rather than just a summary of what you read. She loves teaching exchange students and will give you a good grade if you participate in class and follow along with the readings! Definitely a must take if you have room for an elective in your schedule! |
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