Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Semester in Santiago Chile Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/27/2018 to 06/11/2018 with

SIT Study Abroad: Chile - Comparative Education and Social Change

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about independence that was really valuable. I also improved my language skills a lot which I am really happy to have done.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

First month was lots of hours of work per day

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Super helpful and always wanted to be there for you

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Loved the homestay environments

* Food:

Food in general in the country can be repetitive and while I enjoyed the food in my own host home, a lot of my friends on the program struggled with the food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Integration through the host families was wonderful, but little ability to integrate with people my own age since all classes were separate from them.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Generally very comfortable on the streets, even late at night

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I think that it is the best way to be on a small program and have a lot of things provided for you. I knew for myself that I would be most comfortable in a small group, but I know that many people on the program struggled with that kind of environment.

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)

Depended a lot on the week and the way that one wanted to live. Since all meals are provided and the program helps with transportation many costs were minimized.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 15
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I recommend planning your budget beforehand and using cash as much as possible!

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

All classes and conversations with the program leaders were in Spanish.

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? Spanish classes in college
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Speaking and conversation were the most helpful practice

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

  • Americans
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?
  • host families
* What could be improved?
  • distribution of course work
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how the program would change so much over the course of it. The first month felt like it had a constant rhythm but then after that time the program was not consistent with the traveling and the independent projects.

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!