Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Cultural immersion in Argentina through study abroad September 20, 2022

By (International and Global Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/14/2022 to 07/24/2022 with

Universidad Torcuato Di Tella: Buenos Aires - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Learned how to navigate a new city and learn about a different culture. Developed my ability to be independent and advocate for myself in a setting with not a lot of support.

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? Yes

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? possibly around100 a week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I chose the option to pay more to be provided breakfast and dinner from my host family which was nice in terms of spending more time with them. However, from a purely financial standpoint, I think I would have saved money by just paying rent and taking care of meals myself.

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? 0318
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? Adhere to the language pledge

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

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?
  • Program led cultural activities
  • The university
* What could be improved?
  • Efforts to make the program bigger (get more students, since we only had 4
  • More guidance early on in the program
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How much I would have to figure things out on my own

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:

Política exterior de los estados unidos
Course Department: Estudios Internacionales
Instructor: Nicolás Comini
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Was challenging and the teacher was both knowledgeable and well-prepared. I participated in class less than I would have at my home institution due to the fact that I am less confident in my abilities to articulate a clear point or response in Spanish than I am in english. We were assessed primarily with papers.
Credit Transfer Issues: No issues with credits
Course Name/Rating:

Política y Sociedad en América Latina
Course Department: Estudios Internacionales (international studies)
Instructor: Jennifer Cyr
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Was challenging and professor was very knowledgable about the topic. I participated less in class than I would have in a class here at Middlebury. We were assessed with papers and exams.
Credit Transfer Issues: No issues.