IFSA Chilean Universities Program, Santiago

I could not recommend studying abroad with IFSA enough. My friends and I all studied abroad through different providers and I no doubt had the most impactful experience out of any of them. While most providers allow you to take classes in English with only exchange students, this program allows you to directly enroll in classes at the local university. This means that they are taught completely in Spanish and that you are taking classes alongside Chilean students. You also have the opportunity to live with a host family which allows you to fully immerse yourself in the culture. The on-site staff is very supportive and helpful throughout the whole experience. If you want to experience something that is a step further than just being a tourist for 5 months I would absolutely recommend IFSA!

Chile, in my opinion, is the most beautiful country in the world. If you love nature, or if you are a big-city person-- this location could not be more incredible. The IFSA program makes all of the logistics of living and studying in a foreign country so easy, and the program staff on site are incredibly caring and helpful. The on-site director personally texts and calls in response to any problem you may have, no matter what time of the day or night. One amazing thing about this program is that it allows you to pick classes in multiple universities, and that helps you even more to see what a diversity of thought and opinion there are in the country. I went to the two best universities in Chile, the private Ponticicia Universidad Catolica, and the public, more liberal Universidad de Chile. It was so interesting and fun making friends at the two universities, and seeing two different perspectives on life. This program is also great for those who love to have more independence-- you take most of your classes with Chilean students in subjects that you get to choose yourself, and you have a ton of free time to explore and become involved in the things that interest you the most. But that does not mean that you are on your own-- there are many incredible scheduled activities and trips with the group, and the on-site staff are always available for any questions about your host family or social life, your academics, travel, health and safety, language learning, culture shock, homesickness, or almost anything else that you may need. Overall, my time in Santiago, Chile was one of the most influential moments of my life, and it has made me dream of returning some day, or maybe even living there for a short time in the future. For anyone wanting to travel to Chile, I definitely recommend IFSA in Santiago.

My semester in Chile was indelibly marked by the large student and societal protest movement that erupted in mid-November and rocked the country from tip to tip. Vast economic inequality and inopportunity drove millions of people of all ages, religions, and statuses into the streets to chant, demonstrate, dance, and make their voices heard. Fortunately, this movement and the isolated violence that accompanied it never hurt or harmed anyone in our program directly. Unfortunately, it did throw a wrench in our plans and classes for the remainder of the semester were cancelled. However, thanks to the infallible and constant leadership of IFSA and our on-site coordinator Isabel Yevenes, my experience was not tarnished in the least. With the help of my amazing and wise host mom, I was able to learn about the historical context of the protests, attend some of them, and safely understand the movement that was so powerfully gripping an entire nation. While things eventually calmed down to a degree, we were not able to return to classes. This was no matter, however, as my experience in Chile was enriching in so many other ways. From my Spanish language immersion to the friends I made to the amazing program excursion to the Atacama desert to the solo travels I was able to have, my semester with IFSA in Chile was truly the best five months of my life. Thank you IFSA for making that possible. I am forever grateful.