Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Do I have to leave? Past Review

By (University of Saint Thomas - Minnesota) - abroad from 07/26/2015 to 06/28/2016 with

IES Abroad: Santiago - Study in Santiago

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Chile taught me to be patient with others and with myself, to communicate about everything always because you can never be too informed, to try new things and to get back up when you don't do as planned, to ask for help and in return, help others, to get lost and find your way home, to struggle and overcome obstacles, to learn, to love, and to grow. A part of Chile will forever be in my heart.

Review Photos

IES Abroad: Santiago - Study in Santiago Photo IES Abroad: Santiago - Study in Santiago Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses taken at IES Abroad Santiago are well organized and the professors communicate their expectations very clearly. However, I also took classes at La Catolica and they are very disorganized with class options, expectations, and due dates. It was a stressful experience but thankfully the IES staff was there to help me through it.

* 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?

The IES staff was very helpful in this aspect. When I was ill they assisted me in making an appointment at a local medical center and it was usually a day of (early next day) appointment to see a doctor.

* Safety:

Santiago is a fairly safe country. The only thing is that there is a lot of petty theft so I would not recommend walking with your phone in your hand or walking alone at night. Just be aware of your surroundings and manage your things.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Yes I believe IES does a good job of helping students become integrated into the culture and providing them with resources to make their experience better. I do think in the Spring their are too many programs (Study in Santiago, Emerging economies, Health studies program) and students coming in at the same time for the three IES ladies to give everyone 100% and this can be troublesome for students when it is their first time abroad and they are struggling with culture shock.

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)

Santiago is an expensive city in South America, it is comparable to the costs in USA. I spent about $45 on groceries, $15 on public transportation, and whenever I went out to eat with friends it would be about $15.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100

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

We were encouraged to speak Spanish all the time.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • The staff was extremely supportive
  • The IES center was clean and accessible.
* What could be improved?
  • Their was a lot of trouble with having enough food in the host-family situations. The staff should keep a closer eye on this.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I think all of the pre departure information was thorough and very helpful .

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.