Type of housing: On campus

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? I only lived in campus housing the 1st semester, as is (was?) policy by the university for all freshmen. Piso Compartidos (shared apartments) can be found around the city for very little money, or you could get your own apartment for the same price, more likely less, than what you pay to live in the dorms. Although the dorms do provide more opportunities to meet people. But SLU Madrid is a small school and its hard not to know everyone anyways.

Personal comments:
The house that we got to live in was pretty nice. Zenaida, the woman who was in charge of looking after was really sweet, although she did get mad at us a lot. The only freaky thing is in the middle of the night one of the guys who works for the university would walk through the house to make sure everything was ok. He was really nice and cool, but footsteps in the middle of the night can be sort of freaky.

Type of housing: On campus

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? on campus housing is rather restrictive. it's like having parents away from home. its not your typical univeristy regulations. when i was there, americans were not allowed to get their own apartments until their second year. other nationalities were.

Personal comments:
my first semester was at a 'girls dorm' which later closed down. the following semester i was at a university apartment, but the girls were not my type of crew...very 'fake'. my last year there i had my own apartment and it was great. 2 minutes from school. great neighborhood too. freedom.

Type of housing: With a family

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? Because I feel I would have felt more independent. My host family had rules and guidelines that we had to follow. We also didn't have much privacy living in the space they provided for us.

Personal comments:
It is a hit or miss experience. You could be placed with a welcoming family or you could be placed with a very rigid and unwelcoming family. You don't know what you are going to get, but I suppose that is the best part, you have no idea, its all a new experience!

Type of housing: With a family

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: A room exchange

Why? just to have a different experience. plus would be nice not to have to worry about family time and meals.

Personal comments:
i was fortunate with my family, not all students in my program were. my family was very helpful in the integration of culture and language.

Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Home university

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? The School offers Half room and Board, which I would have liked better because I they have full kitchens that the students can cook with.

Personal comments:
Only real problem with the housing was the Maid. She was noisy and disruptive at times.

Type of housing: With a family

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? I enjoy the freedom of living on my own.

Personal comments:
I loved my host family. I studied abroad twice in Spain-so the second time I went back I requested the same family and got to live with them again!

Type of housing:

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? the cost of living in Madrid is fairly inexpensive, and so is renting an apartment

Personal comments:
the housing was nice in that it was great for meeting international students, but the rules that the university have are too restrictive. in the dorms, for example, one is not allowed to have visitors of any kind, and the students are monitored unnecesarily by cameras, not for security, but to be checked on for breaking rules

Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? Privacy

Personal comments:
They offer host families, who do the bare minimum to make your stay nice. Often times they refuse to feed you fruit, and the portions are very small. In university apartments its usually 4 bedrooms with 8 students and 2 bathrooms. Living conditions are very crowded so its better to rent your own apartment. It will be cheaper too!

Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? I prefer having my own apartment because I am extremely independent.

Personal comments:
none

Type of housing: started with host then got private apartment

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? Independence/Cheaper Host family are doing it for economic reasons only.

Personal comments:
Upon arrival was placed with Peruvian laday she had several flats around Moncloa. Not the best situation. After one month moved into private apartment

Type of housing: With a family

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: With a family

Why? Helped me dramatically improve my language skills and got the true Spanish experience.

Personal comments:
I lived with a family in downtown Madrid and they were great. They helped me adapt to the new culture and with any other needs.

Type of housing: On campus

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: On campus

Why? Porque es la que me gusta

Personal comments:
none

Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why?

Personal comments:
none