Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

the BIG city - a worthwhile experience! Past Review

By (Latin American Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/06/2015 to 11/25/2016 with

Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM): Mexico City - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This experience really prompted me to break out of my shell considering that I had no one physically there to guide me or share the same struggle. I am or Mexican descent and I have visited Mexico City before but I was too young to even remember. Even with my Mexican background, I had to renegotiate my identity several times while being there. The overall experience was great and most importantly I was able to learn more about myself as a person.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Academically, UNAM had a lot of interesting courses to offer and there were courses for example that I knew a school in the US would not teach. I appreciated very much that the university is autonomous (the state does not dictate the curriculum) so there was a great array of courses to choose from. Since I was only there for a semester, I did not venture out much academically since I was only taking courses within my major: Latin American Studies. Even within the Latin American Studies department there were many courses taught through a multidisciplinary approach. The courses I took during the fall were Historia Socioeconomica del Caribe - Antillas; Dictaduras en America Latina; Afroamericas; y Revolucion Mexicana.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

am a large foodie so I definitely took advantage in eating as much Mexican cuisine as possible. Since I was there during the fall, I arrived during the season (August - November) where many restaurants served the traditional dish of Chiles en Nogada. I literally became obsessed with this dish! Whenever I would go to a restaurant, I would order this very dish and something else. I began trying chiles en nogada in many restaurants and I came to the conclusion that I loved it the best at Angelopolitano in Roma Norte (shameless plug).

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

am or Mexican descent and I have visited Mexico City before but I was too young to even remember. Even with my Mexican background, I had to renegotiate my identity several times while being there. The overall experience was great and most importantly I was able to learn more about myself as a person.

* 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

During my semester, I met some great friends. There were plenty of international students on campus so I was never alone. Academically, UNAM had a lot of interesting courses to offer and there were courses for example that I knew a school in the US would not teach. The city definitely has a lot to offer. There are always so many museums, events, and restaurants to visit. Tripadvisor was my best friend during this entire experience. As much as I planned out to visit as many places possible in a week, it was very difficult to fit everything in my schedule. The Metro was a very quick and affordable way to get around although it would become a nightmare during the "hora pico"

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50-$100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Budget!!!

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

All my classes were taught in Spanish.

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? SPAN 329 - Sem: Chile, Literature & the Arts
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? Although there are a lot of English speakers in Mexico City, the best way to practice your language skills is by constantly engaging in conversations in Spanish with your peers.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International 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?
  • Location
  • Variety of Classes
  • Cuisine
* What could be improved?
  • Communication with UNAM's Movilidad Office
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Before arriving to campus, I was told that the university's size compares itself to the size of a city. I couldn't believe it but that statement is completely true. The size of the campus was huge and the easiest way to navigate from one side of campus to the other was through the Pumabus. The size of the student body also compared to the size of a small city: a total of 300,000+ undergrad and graduate students are enrolled in the university. Coming from a small female liberal arts college, I was definitely up for a very different college 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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!