Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The most bacán experience of my life Past Review

By (Georgetown University) - abroad from 02/23/2018 to 07/13/2018 with

IFSA: Santiago - Chilean Universities Program, Santiago

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Not only did my semester abroad significantly improve my Spanish-speaking, but it also instilled in me a new sense of confidence and independence. Also, the traveling I got to do while in country was once-in-a-lifetime.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Isa and the ladies in the office were so welcoming and helpful; they made my experience.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

The quality of the food was almost entirely dependent on your host family. Fortunately my host mother was an excellent cook, but some of my peers mentioned at some point not getting enough to eat.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Only one of my classes ended up being completely free of other exchange students, and that was the class I liked the most. I wish I had enrolled in more classes by myself.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any health issues of my own; however, I accompanied a friend on campus once and she was hit by a cyclist. Isa and Alice were there almost immediately and checked her into a hospital as soon as they possibly could.

* Safety:

I never felt unsafe traveling by day in the city. The only incident I experienced was when my friend's purse was stolen, but even though my friend was not a part of the IFSA program, Isa did as much as she could to help when we visited the office in a panic.

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

IFSA made my experience. The other American students were my rock throughout the semester, and Isa, Alice, and Domi were the support system I could not have lived without.

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)

I did a lot of traveling on my own dime and therefore studying in Chile was rather expensive. The only real unavoidable expense was public transportation.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Apply for a TNE public transportation as soon as possible - it will reduce your weekly commute expensive by at least half!

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? 300 level elective
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Listen to music and watch TV series in Spanish.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • 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?
  • Chile and the beauty of its geography/people
  • My host family
  • Pushing myself out of my comfort zone
* What could be improved?
  • Curriculum of the required Spanish course
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Chilean Spanish is extremely difficult; I should've brushed up on some slang terms before arriving in country

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!