Hola a todos!
Just found this site, and was wandering if anyone had anyfirst hand information about either of these programs. Although I studied in Madrid before (fall of 2000 and spring of 2002), and lived in Valencia teaching English this past summer, I cant seem to shake it, and so instead of taking my degree and getting a real, sensible job here in Boston, I have applied through these two programs to go back to Madrid for the 2003-2004 year. And hopefully try to find work teaching english, translating, or doing what ever so that I can stay there after the program is done. Nothing like earning your Masters to get a job with a 9 euro an hour wage Anyways, although Im still sitting here with my fingers crossed hoping to hear that I was accepoted to either of these program, in the off chance that I get accepted to both, does anyone have any insight into which one I should chose? Also, how is the work load compared to undergrad? Am I going to be locked away in the library, or can I still salir por la noche a veces? Any insight would be great.....Thanks so much...you guys are great!

Hey Michelita.

Oh to go back and do what you are doing all over again. I was in your exact same position about 6 years ago, I got accepted at the Middlebury Spanish School for my Masters and was getting ready to do the 6 weeks summer study in Vermont prior to my academic year abroad here in Madrid at the Instituto Internacional.

I know Shawn (Redwood) is another "Middleburyite" and I thimk I saw a few more people on the board once that had done the program.

I have a friend here in Madrid (just one ) who also did the program with me and he stayed after it ended. We should all meet up in September as Shawn is moving back then as well

He had a bad time since he clashed with one of the teachers named Eduardo Camacho (as did Shawn I think). I am sure it will enlighten you to sit down with us all and shoot the breeze.

Personally my experience at Middlebury Spain was positive, the quality of education was good, the "profes" were helpful, nice and the majority were knowledgable.

My only gripe was that the program was at the International Institute which is a breeding ground for native English speakers and is not conducive to learning Spanish. In spite of the Middlebury language pledge which prohibits their students from speaking English (or anything but Spanish for that matter) during the course of the program, the institute wreaks of English since the MANY other schools there in the building do not have the pledge.

You will be glad to know that Middlebury has moved their program out of "El Instituto" and into theri own building on Calle Prim here in Madrid, it was about time!

On the positive side, when I was doing my Masters there, they had just implemented the option to take some of your classes on campus at the Universidad de Carlos III (WEBSITE HERE) which I would definitely do if I had the chance to go back and start again.

Take as many of the classes there as you can, immerse yourself in Spanish university life and have a great time.

Middlebury Spain has been around for 50 years and it is a very promising program but you and only you will dictate how much you get out of your stay here in Madrid (god,I sound like a professor )

I have not heard much about the NYU program but when I did my Masters it was twice as expensive as the Middlebury for the same coursework (pretty much) and I personally do not see why as Middlebury College is one of the, if not THE most prestigeous language schools in the U.S.

Saludos,
jer...

Jer,

Hey man, what's up? I didn't really have a clash with Camacho, but I did not care for him as an instructor because he didn't know how to teach. He only read from his notes and with his voice being raspy, he is hard to understand. He only wants to help students who already know how to analyze literature and if you are weak in that area, forget it. HE WILL NOT HELP YOU.

I would love to get together and chat about the Middlebury program. It is top notch. NYU doesn't have a language pledge and many of their students spoke a lot of Spanish outside of class.

Middlebury is an excellent program, but get ready for some ambiguity. There is no bookstore and you will have to hunt for books. That is a given, but all of that helps with your Spanish.

You will like it a lot.

Shawn

Wow...muchisimas gracias for the insight guys! As for the Instituto problems, I know them well, having spent two semesters with Boston University's program there...It actually wasnt so bad for me though, as I really just showed up for class and left, because I was working an internship that filled most of my time, and kept me smack dab in the middle of Spanish (oh how I dreaded the sound of a ringing phone those first couple of weeks! No matter how well I tried to mentally prepare myself, I could never catch what the caller was trying to say, or if I did, had no idea how to tell him the answer!!) Anyways, I remember hearing about Prof. Camacho, as I tihnk he taught a couple of BU's classes as well. I actually had the opportuinty to take a few Middlebury undergrad courses while there with BU (they have a convenio thing) and really liked them! Especially the ones with Paco Layna!! What a truely cool guy! NYU also used to be housed at the IIE, but they also moved recently to a chalet en El Viso...And I cant rag on the instituto too much, if for no other reason than the superb cafe and always friendly Eva!! Im not too worried about the lack of guidance, as it was pretty similar with the two programs I did undergrad...find your own books, figure out how to borrow from the library on your own...And I agree, painful as it was at first, it was probably good for me in the end. Now, I do have a few more questions though: How is the summer before program in vermont thing? Im really NOT to keen on the idea of a summer in Middlebury, VT....as green pastures have never really been my thing, nor has much of the nature/wildlife arena....Give me a good old slab of concrete any day! BUt seriously, how was it? Second, was the program a lot of work? compared to your undergrad studies? and finally, how were they with helping out with logistics: housing, registration, visa paper work, etc.. Thanks guys!!! And well totally have to meet up when (if?...no, definatly WHEN) I get back to Madrid...then you can give me the real dirt on the program and all...

Michelita,

Get ready for a lot of reading and research, especially in the literature and culture classes. Your language clasees, a lot of them really don't require a final project, but some do.

As far as housing is concerned, I hear that Middlebury now has a housing database and will help you with housing. I am not saying that they will secure it for you, but they do try to help.

For visas, they will send you all of the necessary paperwork and follow all of the instructions that they give you.

Looking back on it, I really enjoyed the program and learned a lot that has really distinguished me from other instructors.

The summer program, I wasn't too impreseed with. I found it to be very easy, but I started my MA at the University of Puerto Rico and doing linguistics gave me the extra edge that other students didn't have, so I'm not a good one to ask. I am not into rolling hills either, so I really couldn't stand being in Vermont. New England is not my cup of tea. I too long for concrete and street noise.

Professors were good there and your Spanish does get a boost by studying there, but it is an artificial environment and stay away from people who have a low level of Spanish. They will bring you down girlfriend.

Classes are just one hour long and they are packed with information. I skipped all of the activities that they offered and got my work done. I truly couldn't be bothered with things. My work came first and that's all it was to it.

I hope this answers your questions and I am sure that JER will offer more insight and how things have changed since he was a student there.

We will meet up. I am making the final touches on my plans to leave and that will be late August.

Shawn

Ok...I have an update...I called NYU and Middlebury the yesterday to see about sending them my fall semesster grades now that they are in. I had to send off the applications before the end of the semester so I couldnt include them. So I needed to see if they wanted an official or unoffical transcript, if I could fax it, mail, etc. So I call NYU and some 7.50 an hour idiot is like "well, you can just send them to us I guess, or fax too, maybe, ummmm...I guess what ever you want..."...USELESS! So then I call middlebury to ask the same questionand after being connected to three diffentent, yet all incorrect, addmissions offices, I finally ended up on the phone with the coordinator for the Spanish school...So I ask my question, to which she answers that that is a very good question, and the answers depend on when my file is being reviewed and "some other factors"...so shes says hold on one sec, let me grab your file and ill tell you what you need to do....she comes back and says" Michelle, I have your file here in front of me now, and I dont htink it will be necessary for you to send you grades over"...So my heart drops, oh my god ive already been rejected!, they dont even want to see my grades.. .but then she says"yeah, your GPA is excellent and your placement exam results are very good too, so I wouldnt worry about it...you should hear from us soon"..Me: "choke chote, stutter, stutter,,So, um I dont need to send you my grades" nah, she says, dont worry...I think youll be just fine...I thanked her and hung up quickly before she could chnage her mind, or say something to make me doubt her...but, im thinking shed have to be a flaming ******* to tell me that and then not let me in...right? So, one way or another, albeit not officially YET, Im coming back to MADRID....WOO yOOOOo!

Hi Michelita.

Don't worry, most universities (both undergrad and postgrad) admin offices are a nightmare. If things were smoothe and easy with the admin., then I would begin to worry

Looks good for Middlebury!!!

Middlebury was actually the only grad school I applied to and I was accepted with a 3.80 GPA out of Stony Brook University (state school in NY).

Saludos y suerte,
jer...

Good morning, Michelita.

She is telling the truth. Here's what happened to me. I applied to go to Middlebury in 1999 for the 2000 year. I was evidently the first person to apply a year in advance and that never happened before.

During the summer, after having returned from studying at the University of Puerto Rico, one faithful evening at about 5:00pm, I get a phone call. It was the Spanish School Coordinator, Aufrey LaRock. She told me that my file was complete and that I didn't have to worry because I was acceptable. I had a sigh of relief. For me, I did crappy in undergrad, but when I start grad at UPR, I really excelled because that was where I wanted to be. That really gave me the boost that I needed to get into Middlebury.

All in all, I really think that the Middlebury Program is far superior to NYU.

NYU has just moved offices to Santiago Bernabeu, and they are really far from the center. It's a hike to get there by metro and you will have to leave early to get to classes on time.

Middlebury is in the process of moving smack dab in the middle of the city, close to El Prado, the National Library among other places.

Both Jer and I know that the decision is yours to make, but think objectively and look at what both programs have to offer. Choose the one that best fits your needs as a graduate student and the type of interests that you have as far as classes being offered.

An introduction to the university was given to you just by the service that you got when you called. THINK ABOUT IT.

Both Jer and I will be happy to meet you in August and give you the low-down and what to watch out for.

Buena suerte,

Shawn

So, It arrived today...The OFFICIAL Congratualations, You've been accepted to Middlebury letter!!!! I ripped it open right there at my mailbox like a freak, but hey, the confimation that one way or another I am goign back to Madrid is justificaiton for acting like a freak, i think Still waiting to see what kind of bling they want to give me, and what NYU wants to counter offer....but its official...that letter is my ticket back to ESPANA!!!

:cheers:

That pretty much sums it up!!!

Saludos,
jer...

Awesome Michelita!!! Congrats from a fellow Bostonian and soon to be madrilena!!! See you there chica!!! Luv, Joy

Michelita,

Good for you. Hey, I agree that you have to wait and now see what money comes into play. I will see you in August.

Shawn

Not to get all mushy, but can I just tell you all again how great and truely supportive you are? I have been telling my friends and family all day about my acceptance, and have generally gotton the response of "wow, great...so I guess well never see you again, huh?" I know that they will come around, and eventually be happy both because I am finally going back to Spain where I am always so content and because they will have someone to visit there, but it was really really nice to hear just a little bit of the enthusiasm and excitement I felt be shared and understood. Thanks so much!

Hey Michelita, "�nimo" girl!!! That's what we are here for

quote:

"I have been telling my friends and family all day about my acceptance, and have generally gotton the response of "wow, great...so I guess well never see you again, huh?"

I also had mixed responses when I got into Middlebury but the best one was from my mom (who is NY FAR the best mom in the world!!!) when she said...

"Cool, now I get to stay for free in Madrid!"

Most of my family and friends were very supportive and having my only brother already living abraod as an ex-pat made things easier.

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. At least now they still see the possibility of your returning home after the year abroad but just wait for their reactions when you tell them you are staying FOREVER (if indeed you decide to).

Michelita-I totally understand!!! Does'nt that just piss you off!?!? My favorite is when familiy members like an aunt, or my friend's mom will go "You're going back to Madrid? Why?" like totally confused. Grrrr, and here I thought everyone would think it was so glamorous! hahaha. We're all psyched for you!!! Congrats! -Joy