Immersive and learning filled Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Excellent educational quality, better than my prior study abroad experience. Classes were small and attendance mandatory, I got to know my professors and had easy access to them at office hours. A lot of student teacher interaction.

On-site administration of your program

The administrators are nice but unaware of the flaws they are doing and are quick to blame it on you. For example, some people in my program got urgent emails and contact with their home office advisors about now having paid a housing deposit, and the people in our study abroad office in UDLA were angry with us and claimed they had sent tons of emails. They soon realized that it was a problem with their system, and that it was not our fault, and that many students did not have access to the UDLA emails they sent the prior warning emails too and that a lot of the emails just didnt send in the first place. They can be disorganized and very slow.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I enjoyed the convenience and location of the dorms but they had some suprising catches, such as being charged for having an over night visitor of any gender, no male overnight visitors allowed. People also ate my food without permission which wasnt a common occurence, but there was not much of a community in my floor and it was hard to talk to or get to know people. Otherwise the dorms themselves are very clean and nice. I think this may have to do with the fact that I requested a siletn and studious dorm.

On campus, the places all have the same menu every day, with few selections. The hours of food places are also not very long. Going off campus to some of the local small restaurants in Cholula was the best part.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very much integrated even though I did not take any immersion classes. My dorm mates were all Mexican and I discovered taht both the professors and students here are very friendly and open to meeting foreigners.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The female doctor at UDLA is especially great. The only issue is that there is no pharmacy on campus and it took me a while to find one. Also services on campus are very limited.

There are a lot of holes in the pavement near the university and a few people in my program actually had to use crutches briefly due to accidents while walking. I also heard of someone who was assaulted and robbed on the street late at night while walking alone. However, I never felt in danger, and I believe some of these dangers are typical to any city.

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

Cost of living is very very low here. Food is half the price in the states. Everything is generally much cheaper.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Classes were all in Spanish and the foreign exchange students are very international and come from different countries, sometimes Spanish was the best common language for us to use with each other instead of English. However, still many American students.

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• Dorm

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• Local Students

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• Americans
• International Students

• Internship program
• Small class sizes
• International student body

• Disorganization in offices
• Clearer instructions of administrative issuse

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer