Study Public Health in Chile Past Review
By A student (Vassar College) - abroad from 07/24/2019 to 12/13/2019 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Valparaiso
It was so worthwhile—I feel so much more confident speaking Spanish and talking about health-related topics in Spanish
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. |
I was a part of the public health program in Viña del Mar so I was taking nursing classes and doing an internship at a family community health center. I loved my internship. I did not love my classes but was able to supplement one of my nursing classes with a sociology class. I am happy that I did not pursue the independent study option as it did not feel like it made sense with my goals for the semester. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I thought that Paulina was fantastic at coordinating our host families. I ended up switching host families halfway through the summer and she was so supportive and helpful with the transition. I adored my second host family. |
| * 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: |
Even with the political unrest, I always felt safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Yes because I loved the internship aspect of my program. However, I think I would've liked taking non-nursing classes in the end. |
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) |
Food was not super cheap in Chile |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 20 |
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 |
I loved the language pledge. My friends and I stuck with it and only spoke in Spanish with each other throughout the entire semester. |
| 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? | A level 226 in Hispanic Studies (one class after the required course to go abroad) |
| 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? | STICK TO THE LANGUAGE PLEDGE, even with your friends from the program. Listen to music and movies and TV only in that language. Listen to the radio in that language before falling asleep. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | I wish I had known about more ways to get involved and meet people at my university |
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.' |
