<p>I'm thinking about studying abroad in Spain for the Fall '11 semester.</p>
<p>University of Malaga, in Malaga, Spain, to be exact.</p>
<p>Why Malaga, and not Madrid or Barcelona, you may ask? Malaga was the most affordable studying abroad program in Spain that I could find. I would prefer Madrid or Barcelona, but all the programs in those cities were $4,000-$5,000 more than Malaga.</p>
<p>After tuition, airfares, and other fees, my estimate of Malaga is $12,500 per semester (I'm only planning on being there for a semester). FA will cover $10K. The rest will be off my parent's savings (I come from a lower-class family, BTW).</p>
<p>I really would like to improve my Spanish, "broaden my horizons", and add studying abroad to my resume.</p>
<p>But do you think the program is worth the money? Should I try to go Madrid or Barcelona for $4-5K more? What do you think?</p>
<p>Personally I’d avoid Malaga. It has a reputation in the UK for being a mecca for drunken tourists and party goers. If you’re going to Spain to improve your Spanish then going somewhere with a huge Anglophone expat community might not be such a good idea.</p>
<p>I don’t think Malaga would be a bad destination at all. I think that a lot of cities get a reputation for either being too touristy or overrun with foreign students, but can still offer meaningful experiences. </p>
<p>You may also look into Seville or Granada in Spain. Though, if your primary goal is to improve your Spanish, and money is a concern, you might consider looking into programs in Latin American countries which may have more favorable exchange rates. </p>
<p>Finally, if you’re receiving a Pell Grant as part of your financial aid, you could qualify for the Gilman scholarship program: [Benjamin</a> A. Gilman International Scholarship Program](<a href=“http://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program]Benjamin”>Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program | IIE - The Power of International Education)</p>
<p>Maybe not much help but I have visited Malaga on a Med cruise, and I must say their local fare is delicious–gazpacho & sangria. </p>
<p>Studying abroad is not necessarily about being in the big name cities.</p>
<p>I’ve never been but I know that abroad101 has reviews from other students for most cities in Spain so you could compare based on their experiences.</p>
<p>Here’s the link to Spain: [Study</a> Abroad in Spain (Espana) | Abroad101](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/countries/spain-espana]Study”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/countries/spain-espana)</p>
<p>I don’t know Malaga that well except for partying, but after living in Madrid for 3 years I can say that visiting Spain is worth it. Madrid, Seville, Ibiza, and Barcelona are right around the corner, not to mention $100 can get you a plane flight to Lisbon, Rome, Paris, or London! (Ryanair ftw)</p>