Chile: Bacan! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The grading system at La Católica (PUC) is very different compared to the American grading system. Instead of using a scale based out of 100 total pointes (with letter grades A, B, C, respectively), the scale is based out of 7 total possible points. Grades are ambiguous; you put the same effort into two different assignments, and the first time you may receive a 6, the second time you may receive a 2.5 (failing grade). Especially in the business school, the professors are unwilling to meet outside of classes and help you if you are struggling. They are also unwilling to explain the grading system (and its lack of transparency) and what you need to do to achieve your goals. I was extremely dissatisfied with the business faculty and would never chose to return to study business at La Católica.

On-site administration of your program

This is Latin America, so things get done slowly and inefficiently. Be prepared to have to wait in lines, do lots of paperwork, and wait months upon arriving in order to receive your student metro pass, Chilean ID card, student ID card, etc. Regardless, they are helpful and friendly in the International Exchange Student office.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The first semester I lived with a host family that I found through a host-family locator service. This experience was not as pleasant. Second semester I found a different host family through a friend, and this experience turned out to be wonderful. The host family has its pros and cons, but it will absolutely help with your language acquisition.

Chilean food is rather bland. They eat a lot of meat, rice, beans, and avocados. I don’t especially like meat, so it was difficult for me to find dishes without meat. I loved the avocados and ate them every day. There are lots of Peruvian restaurants in Santiago which are amazing – make sure to try Peruvian food!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I took tango and yoga classes as extracurricular activities offered through the university. These were cheap and fun. Second semester I enrolled in a soccer class through the sports faculty – I knew nothing about soccer but had a blast in this class and made some great friends.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I ended up ill and in the hospital first semester after eating something from my host family that made me sick. Be careful about what you eat, and also be hesitant about eating food that is cooked by street vendors. In any event, La Católica has a hospital that is affiliated with the university, and they will take great care of you. Safety – be extra/ultra/super aware of your surroundings at ALL times. It is easy to be accosted on the street, robbed in the metro, robbed on any busy street, or taken advantage of with money. My advice is to be distrustful and avoid contact with the Chilean “flaites,” which are the ones that rob people for a living.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

After studying and living in Chile for a year, my Spanish improved immensely. First thing's first, the Chilean dialect of Spanish is said to be one of the fastest and most difficult to understand. True. I had previously done an internship in Spain for two months and learned a completely different set of vocabulary words, which I had to relearn once I got to Chile. (Very frustrating.) After the first semester I was able to understand a lot more and have interesting/complex conversations. By the end of second semester, I realized how much more confident I had become with my Spanish, and how I could understand everything without having to think about it or translate it in my head. The language improvement is a gradual and very exciting process. My best advice is to avoid English speakers as much as you can (most American students tend to group together and speak English all the time), and make friends with the native Spanish speakers. I met lots of Bolivians and Peruvians that were also on exchange, and they were amazing friends.

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• Host Family

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• Local Students