Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Most Difficult but Fulfilling Year of My Life Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 07/17/2016 to 08/01/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Buenos Aires

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned the language, the culture, the history, and about the people. I also gained way more confidence in myself, greater skills to navigate places on my own, and relationships I will always cherish.

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

* 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 grew more than I could have ever imagined. If I had not been given the independence to explore for myself with the foundation of the incredible group in BA I cannot imagine my experience would have been the same.

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)

While food and drinks were not especially costly, being in a city it is very easy to spend money on things because there are many things to do.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about $50- $75
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? budget that you will want to go out and try new things so the money you spend is more for extra trips/meals out/etc than necessities.

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

Language pledge was taken very seriously and one of the reasons why I loved this program so much

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Low-300 level at Midd
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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?
  • The Staff we worked with every week
  • My host family
  • the opportunity to use spanish every day
* What could be improved?
  • N/A
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I don't think that you can ever prepare yourself fully. You learn the most through your mistakes and first hand experiences

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Teoría Social Latinoamericana
Course Department: Sociology
Instructor: Claudia Uhart
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was by far the most difficult class I took but so interesting. The professor was very accommodating and helped me get a tutor for the course.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Historia Social de Latino América
Course Department: History
Instructor: Funes
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The lectures were great and I learned a lot but it was hard to follow the course because there was no set syllabus, it was a very large class and I did not like the teaching style of my practice professor.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Violentas alteridades: la construcción del Otro y las poéticas de la violencia en la Literatura Argentina
Course Department: Independent Study
Instructor: Dra. Liria Evangelista
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Fantastic, great content and the professor is amazing
Credit Transfer Issues: no