Studying at Universidad de Chile, Universidad Católica Past Review
By Rebecca C (Biopsychology and Community Health, Tufts University) for
Tufts Programs Abroad: Tufts in Chile
My Spanish improved, I met new people, I learned a lot from my interactions with Chileans, I had a great internship experience in which I got to witness something I've studied firsthand. For me, it was a very worthwhile experience.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Universidad de Chile, Universidad Católica |
| The term and year this program took place: | Fall 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My Spanish definitely improved from the Spanish class, and my art class was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot because the teachers would help us with our individual projects. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They made everything really easy |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host family (consisting of one mom and her two daughters) was probably the biggest highlight of my abroad experience. They were extremely nice and accommodating, and my conversations with them were the primary way in which I got to practice my Spanish. <br /><br /> I lived in a nice apartment in Las Condes. I always felt safe in that area, and I was extremely close to a metro station which was very convenient. |
| * Food: |
I never had a problem finding something to eat in my apartment, but the food isn't very flavorful or interesting to me - lots of meat and potatoes and mayonnaise. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was great being able to spend time and make friends with other Tufts students I had never met before. I would recommend that other students go on any and all field trips that sound appealing, because those were a lot of fun. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I had to go to the doctor on a few different occasions, and was assisted by both the program and my host mom. The facilities I went to were really great. As for safety, there are certain places or neighborhoods that are unsafe, especially at night and especially for girls, so it's important to learn which those are and avoid them. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I think on a normal week I probably spent about $50, mostly on transportation, eating out, and going out. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Transportation costs while traveling can really add up. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I had never had a Spanish immersion experience before, and my speaking skills improved pretty dramatically. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | My program was great for people who want to improve their Spanish, learn about a different culture and/or political perspective, or just to live in a very modern and urban city in South America. |
