Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A positive journey abroad in an incredible city July 10, 2023

By (Business, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/25/2023 to 05/18/2023 with

IES Abroad: Madrid - IES Abroad in Madrid

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes, it was worthwhile. The greatest gift I learned abroad was independence, how to live in a city and a larger understanding of cultural differences.

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

I really enjoyed Madrid - the city, the food, the people. I really appreciated the accessibility Madrid provided to a main airport and various train stations so I could travel frequently to other cities. I always felt safe in the city, enjoyed walking around and exploring various areas and loved making Madrid feel like a home for 4 months.

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)

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? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? AP Spanish in High School, 1 semester in college
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • My art and architecture course
  • The trips out of the city
  • Housing
* What could be improved?
  • Spanish course
  • The location of the school - I would have had the opportunity to further explore Madrid if the IES building was in the city, not Leganes
  • Communication between professors and students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew my Spanish was not going to improve so much and I wish the course was taught in a way to help me learn to speak conversational Spanish - to explore, communicate with people in the city - and not to simply to be "spit back" for an exam

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!