Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Go to India they said. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 12/27/2017 to 05/09/2018 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Delhi

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was quite worthwhile. I learned that it takes a life time to learn a new culture, as much as you wish you could just learn everything in one go, so much is left hidden.

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.

All of the courses I took were rigorous and demanded a lot from students, but

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration was nice and I only had few interactions with them.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The apartment was great. Being that it was just me and another student, it was nice that I had a large apartment to invite people over to.

* Food:

The food was amazing and cheap. I got food poisoning a few times, but that’s the price to pay as you gut gets adjusted.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt pretty accepted in the college environment, however I really only scratched the surface of Indian culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Since we have the resources, the program should emphasize it’s access to mental health resources as well as have another doctor who could is available in North Delhi.

* Safety:

I felt pretty safe overall though at times it was difficult being surrounded by so many people.

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

I really enjoyed the program, especially since I was ready for critical discussions on various sociological issues which my classes and friends engaged with everyday.

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)

Meals are cheap in India, however I later wanted more “Western” meals like burgers, tacos and salads which did come at a premium price tag due to imports.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $25
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Learn to stay within your means if you’re on financial aid.

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

Hindi was expected to be used in the classroom and most of my friends spoke Hindi so I was encouraged to use it outside too.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish
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? Study, study, study!

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

  • Local Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Independence
  • Inexpensive
* What could be improved?
  • Vetted Hindi instruction
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Nothing, I felt like I could learn what I needed to know there.

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 Urbanite
A 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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Hindi
Course Department: Hindi
Instructor: Ashutosh Mathur
Instruction Language: Hindi and English
Comments: There were 2 other professors coteaching the class. It made it difficult as there was not much communication between the 3 making it difficult to follow a set curriculum.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Aesthetics
Course Department: Philosophy
Instructor: Silika Mohapatra
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was very engaging and the students equally interested in the curriculum. I was given 2 exams which were formatted like a DU exam and enjoyed the format.
Credit Transfer Issues: