Chile'po' 3,000+ Miles of coastline and remarkable staff

Jog on the beach in the morning, catch a micro bus to Valparaiso for class, and drink Pisco (liquor) at a new place nearly every night. Let's just call Viña del Mar the San Francisco of Latin America.

ISA did a solid job in preparation, orientation and offering a near by office to allow for internet access, tutoring and lounging. The program advisors were very hands on and willing to talk about all the aspects of student life abroad. Trust me, the sensitive topics need to be discussed. I hold the ISA advisors in the highest regard for their realistic and practical approach. They teamed up students personalities and level of Spanish with host families. If you stay for a year enjoy the host family for a semester and then get your own place for the second. My second semester sharing an apartment with international students was insanely spectacular.

The advisors at ISA were really put the the test with my fist semesters rambunctious group. One student got appendicitis, two guys got locked up for a night in Mendoza, Argentina, and I had surgery on my toe due to a sports injury. The ISA team in Chile was remarkably tolerant and effective in resolving each of the situations. I was eventually 100% reimbursed through my personal & ISA insurance. ISA was very prudent with paperwork. The second semesters calm group didn't have any serious issues to the relief of the ISA advisors.

The University was strung about all over the city. This can make for a challenging class schedule but it encourages exploration of the city. Scholastics were hit and miss. The oratory class with Chilean students was one of the most rewarding courses of my college career. The Chilean studies course with only international students was kindergarden. Choose wisely.

Viña del Mar is a remarkable launching point to head north to the Atacama Desert, south to the Patagonia, or catch a flight to Easter Island (highly recommended). The ISA office was happy to assist with all travel arrangements.