Spain: not what you remembered Past Review
By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/31/2020 to 12/20/2019 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid
I have the ability to deal with a lot and make tough decisions. I think it was worthwhile.
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. |
Middlebury was rigorous, UC3M was a joke. Not worth the time it took to get there everyday. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The women did a wonderful job, particularly Sarah who was extremely helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My host house was too far so then I moved and had a better time. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Spaniards are not very open. More like observing from the outside because university students refused to converse. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
SO GOOD. I got all the help I needed especially related to psych treatment! |
| * Safety: |
no issues |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I just didn't love Madrid. The program in and of itself was great just the commuting and blatant racism that threw me for a loop. |
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) |
Not wildly expensive but costs add up especially if you want a social life because having people in the home is not culturally acceptable. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat out less, never buy a drink at the club. |
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? | Advanced |
| 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? | 350 |
| 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? | Intercambio person. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Madrid and Barcelona are drastically different and it will not be the same experience. |
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 BlazerCraving 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: |
Modern History of Spain |
| Course Department: | UC3M |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | I didn't learn much because the instructor was not engaging and didn't have written work so I could keep up better. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Not sure yet |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Immigration |
| Course Department: | Masters |
| Instructor: | Aida Bueno Sarduy |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Challenging, rewarding, informative, smart, the best class ever! |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Not sure yet |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Game theory |
| Course Department: | UC3M |
| Instructor: | Paco Marhuenda |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Not useful, no help from professors, poorly taught and constructed course. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | not sure yet |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Markets and the environment |
| Course Department: | UC3M |
| Instructor: | Najiba El Amrani |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Also poorly taught. Students completely disinterested in learning. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | not sure yet |
