Best college semester ever September 19, 2022
By Margot S (Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies + Politics, Brandeis University) - abroad from 03/03/2022 to 07/23/2022 with
IFSA: Santiago - Chilean Universities Program, Santiago
Language skills, independence, leadership, invaluable experiences like goin to Patagonia, made some of the best friends that I have. It was absolutely worth every moment.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
On-site administration was amazing, but the program put me through the most stressful time of my entire life before I arrived in Chile. IFSA was absolutely horrific, offering little to no support, incorrect information, and no help with the visa process. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Most amazing host family ever |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Some petty theft, mostly phones, nothing dangerous. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would, but I would get other help with everything before the program started because my program was horrible with helping us obtain visas (I never did). |
Finances
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* 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) |
Transportation was a big personal cost. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $60 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Spend your money on traveling! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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? | Spanish 106 at Brandeis |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Live with a host family |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | How to get a visa. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
