Study in Valparaíso

I studied in CIEE's Liberal Arts program in Valparaíso, Chile, this past semester, and I enjoyed it greatly. I was able to travel to many amazing parts of Chile and South America, and my Spanish improved immensely, which were my two primary objectives. I felt that CIEE did a great job of being there for students to offer support through whatever type of trouble they were having, and that the program excursions were extremely well planned and very fun. Valparaíso is a unique city and offers plenty of fun for people who embrace its quirks and challenges. I never lost the feeling that I had a unique opportunity to experience such a culturally vibrant place in another corner of the world. One critique I would have for the program is that the academic system can be challenging for students who are used to more structured, Americanized system, because CIEE students can enroll directly in classes with other Chileans, who are tracked to complete their degrees with the same students and in one concentration only (e.g. engineering students pretty much take only engineering classes for the duration of their collegiate careers, and then graduate as professionals). So, I would advise students to be as careful as possible when choosing their schedule, and to enroll in classes designed for foreigners and CIEE classes if possible. Other than that, I really cannot complain about my time in Chile. I had traveled a bit before I went to Chile, and I think my experience of having been abroad for periods of time helped me out in Valpo.