The year was 1995, but I remember the anxiety I felt like it was yesterday.
It was my second year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and I found myself looking around at what some of my best friends were studying: engineering, chemistry, accounting, physics.
I wondered, how will I find a good job with a generic management/marketing degree?
So I started thinking about what I could do that would give me some more experience and hopefully, more marketability to get hired after graduation.
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had just gone into effect the year before, and I remember Ross Perot talking about the infamous “giant sucking sound” of jobs going to Mexico. Was it time to learn Spanish?
I intensely disliked Spanish in high school and did the minimum required to get into college, but maybe it was time to try again? I looked into the study abroad program of the UW Madison Business School to learn more about programs in Spanish-speaking countries. My options: Santiago, Chile or Barcelona, Spain. Both great places, but neither struck me as very relevant to a future career in business. Mexico seemed like a more logical choice, but I wasn’t sure how to go about it.
This being the pre-Google era, I researched by reading the campus daily newspaper, and one day came across an ad for a study abroad program in Guadalajara through Beaver College (now called Acadia University) in Pennsylvania. Had I ever heard of Beaver College?Of course not! Did I know anything about Guadalajara? Absolutely not! But I decided to take the plunge — which turned out to be the single most important and impactful decision I’ve ever made in my professional life.
Fast forward to 2024, thirty years later, and it’s both surprising and disappointing to learn how few students study abroad in Mexico. I looked at the UW-Madison Business School study abroad options currently available and there are over 30 programs to choose from around the globe. In fact, there are programs at five different universities in Spain, but still none in Mexico! I couldn’t believe it. How can it be that so many people are coming to Mexico to vacation, so many foreigners are now living in Mexico, so many business people from around the world are coming to work in Mexico, and yet such a tiny amount of students come here to study?
A quick Google search shows that over 25,000 U.S. students study each year in Spain, over 14,000 in France, and yet less than 3,000 study in Mexico. What’s going on here? Are kids just generally not interested in Mexico as a study-abroad option? Are parents not interested in sending their kids to study in Mexico? Are U.S. and Canadian universities lagging in offering programs in Mexico? Are Mexican universities not stepping up and offering attractive programs?
I understand that Mexico might not be as “attractive” as a European country in some respects. Europe offers an unparalleled experience to study with people from all over the world and the opportunity to easily travel to many countries — which is invaluable. But Mexico has so much to offer as well, given the increasing political, business, social, and cultural ties across North America.
Taking me as an example of a student who did study abroad in Mexico, the experience was life-changing and the impact was lifelong. Mexico offers a much easier opportunity to “keep up the connections,” given the proximity to the United States and Canada. Many expats I’ve met who are now living in Mexico studied here earlier in their lives.
It’s important to remember that the overall impact of a study-abroad program is not just academic, but rather as an experience. A few highlights from my time here included weekends on isolated tropical beaches, exploring ancient pre-Columbian pyramids, discovering 500-year-old cities, learning how to dance in Acapulco’s clifftop discos and camping in a Chiapas rainforest. I was invited countless times to stay, eat, and travel with my new Mexican friends’ families, and most importantly, I learned how to be independent, curious and confident.
Why not study art in the footsteps of Frida Kahlo in Mexico City? Why not learn anthropology in the shadows of Maya pyramids in the Yucatán peninsula? Why not take business classes at a university in Monterrey, Guadalajara, Querétaro, or Guanajuato where there is a massive investment boom? Why not take culinary classes (along with some surf lessons) in Oaxaca? Why not challenge yourself by taking an economics or liberal arts class somewhere in Spanish? The opportunities are endless.
I recently spoke to the U.S. Embassy about what is being done to foster student exchange on both sides of the border, and I was happy to see that some progress is being made. However, my sense is that there is a lot of work yet to be done to fully take advantage of the opportunity.
We at Mexico News Daily believe that this is an important topic to explore further, and we will be providing increasing coverage of the issue going forward. Our intent is to inspire new ideas, debate and dialogue, so please share your thoughts in the comments. And in the meantime, try to inspire a student you know to study in Mexico!
Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for over 27 years.
Great question and on the surface it would seem logical that more students would choose to study in Mexico. Sadly there are probably some latent issues that prevent people from choosing Mexico as a country to study abroad.
Perceptions and Stereotypes: There might be lingering stereotypes or misconceptions about safety and security in Mexico, particularly in certain regions. While many parts of Mexico are perfectly safe for study abroad, perceptions can influence decisions.
Language Barrier: While this can be seen as an opportunity to immerse oneself in Spanish, the language barrier might still deter some students who are not proficient in Spanish. However, many universities in Mexico offer courses in English, especially at the graduate level.
Limited Awareness: Many students may simply not be aware of the opportunities available for studying in Mexico. Universities and educational institutions in Mexico could potentially do more to promote their programs to international students.
Those are just a couple of potential reasons. Let’s make sure MND keeps spreading the word. Mexico is booming and the entire North American region has as much potential if not more than any in the world.
Having joined Travis on many of those same Mexican adventures while studying in Guadalajara, I can certainly vouch for how amazing the experience was. For some U.S. students the familiarity with Mexico might be a deterrent (“I can always go to Mexico”). For me, the familiarity was a draw. And just knowing that the neighboring country connection (not to mention the unique Mexican brand of Spanish) would be easy to tap into going forward. Orale vato!
Sure students want to learn and prep for the work world, but for most, I suspect it is perceived as somewhat of an extended vacation, and Mexico can certainly deliver on that front. It does seem like a marketing opportunity to highlight all the Insta-worthy moments that Mexico offers. It’s hard to find off the beaten path places these days, but I think Mexico can still surprise folks in this regard. Baja, Chiapas, Yucatán, Bajío, etc…..so much cool stuff beyond the usual Cancún experience.
Some advantages to lean into:
–Lower price point vs. Europe
–English language options
–Incredible depth of experiences accessible in one country
–Easy and increasing transportation options
Great, timely article backed by first hand experience. Thank you!
Mexico never seems to receive credit in the USA for it’s amazing rich history, culture and resources not to mention the excellent value in terms of affordability. I personally think there’s a bias rooted, of course, in ignorance. Mexico makes total sense to me and as a permanent expat living here I continue to help “educate” my family and friends north of the border.
As someone who studied in Guadalajara and then taught in a study abroad program in Mexico, I think the 2008 violence in Morelia was sobering and caused some programs to shut down.
I really enjoyed your article and your story, thank you Travis. There is much to do to remove the stigma about Mexico, unfortunately the number of uninformed people about all the good that Mexico has to offer is high. There needs to be a much closer collaboration among industry, academia and governments to disseminate all the potential that Mexico has. In the end the people with a vision and aspirations find their ways to succeed. Just as you did, you had to find your own means to make your studies in Mexico happen and look how much it has given you back… Motivation can’t be taught…
I have lived in Mexico for 14 years and find it much more welcoming than did France when I studied abroad there in college. The culture here is so open and welcoming and courteous. I would find it hard to return to the States even though my children and grandchildren live there. As was said in the article, its proximity to the States makes for easy travel back and forth. Students here are winning prizes in computer science and electronics. Living here for a student would be culturally rich and fulfilling.
My friend and I, while attending DePauw University located in Greencastle, IN, spent our entire junior year attending LA UNIVERSIDAD DE LA IBEROAMERICACA, a private Jesuit University. LA Ibero was still located in Campestre Churubusco when we lived with a magnificent family and we absolutely loved our year at the Ibero! The Ibero was totally destroyed during the Sept 85 earthquake and was rebuilt in the beautiful Santa Fe area! I still remain very good friends with the family I lived with and travel frequently to Mexico City, Merida, Mazatlan and all over my beloved Mexico!
I graduated from. The University of
the America’s Puebla in 1977. Because I graduated from that University, I live in Mexico today.
It Taught me so much more than what my degree was in. Again, because I attended that University, I live in Mexico today.
Additionally, the school, like a few others, is accredited in the United States and so I applied to 4 graduate schools and was accepted in every one of them. The beauty of the school is that you can transfer credit in and out.
My Spanish is fair, but at the time, the university was bilingual. I owe the university so much.
Hola Paul! We were classmates at UDLA in the 1970s. I was actually the fifth of my siblings to attend the university, which was previously Mexico City College where beatnicks and Korean War vets on the GI bill went in the 1950s. Vietnam War vets were numerous in the 1970s and there were junior year abroad programs with several US universities including Kent State. The university was created by William Jenkins, the gringo millionaire, who wanted US and Mexican students to study together.
I spent the summers of 1965-67 in A primitive village in the mountains of La Sierra Madre Orientales. I traveled 6 hours by horseback to arrive in Tlaxco, city of 3000 without aqua por table, electricity, professionals, schools apart de primeria, and coffee growing was the life of the village.Half of the people could not speak Catellano; they spoke Otomi. I came with 500 words and one course in Spanish; I left with a few thousand words and able to speak some simple conversational phrases. Tlaxco never forgot me as the first North American they had known. I never forgot Tlaxco, PUe. I have compadres and hundreds of Facebook friends.Most of my original friends have died, their children and grandchildren still treat me as family. Bottom line: Until you leave your culture, you can never know it. Mexican peasants with little education taught me what it means to be an Americans, yes, taught a well educated Chicago boy what it meant to grow up in the 17th century. When I return, I never have to ear in a restaurant or stay in a boarding house. I am always overwelming with invitations of places to stay and dinners to share the past.
I am the president of the University of Georgia Alumni Chapter in Mexico City if there is anything I can do to help regarding study abroad programs.
Guanajuato has an excellent university for foreign exchange students. Located in central Mexico El Bajio, Guanajuato City, San Miguel de Allende, Dolores Hidalgo birthplace of Mexico’s independence and much more. www.ugto.mx
Why is it so hard to understand Americans’ reluctance to come to Mexico? For college or otherwise? They think Mexico is unsafe. How many of those other destinations listed in the article are on the U.S. State Department’s “Do Not Travel” list? Right now, 6 Mexican states are at the “Do Not Travel” level; 7 states are at “Reconsider Travel”; 17 states are at “Exercise Increased Caution”; and only 2 states in the entire country are at “Exercise Normal Precautions” (Campeche and Yucatan). What university is going to encourage students to come here when they can go places with greater perceived safety? I understand that it’s a perception issue and that Americans’ impressions are fed by the U.S. media. But the fact remains, Americans are afraid of Mexico. I have been in the tourism business for 27 years, and it has always been hard to sell Mexico tours. It takes extra effort to convince potential tour clients that the week or two they will spend here will be safe. It must be much harder for a parent wants to send their naive college student here for a whole semester. We Americans who live here know about the magic of Mexico. Most other Americans are simply afraid.
It’s all about the “fear factor.” We attended an intensive immersion language school in Cuernavaca, Morelos, for six months in 2001. At that time, there were more than 30 language schools in the “City of Eternal Spring.” Our school, Cuauhnáhuac Spanish Language Institute, had over 200 students — mostly from the U.S. — during the summer of 2001. That school is now permanently closed. Today, there are only a half-dozen schools still functioning in Cuernavaca, and with much lower attendance than before. Yes, security is a concern, but the U.S. news media is to blame for fomenting the “fear factor.” When’s the last time you heard ANY sort of positive news from México being reported by U.S. media? It’s all negative, stoking the fires of fear in U.S. households, high schools, universities. The language departments of U.S. colleges have to think about their liability if something were to happen to a student they’ve sent to study abroad. So they’ve opted for other countries that don’t get the bad press that México always has. After retiring, I worked part-time for a couple of years as a U.S. rep for 4 Spanish language schools in México…one in Cuernavaca, one in Tepoztlán, one in Puerto Escondido, and one in Sayulita. Only the one in Puerto Escondido is still functioning. I took a group of 4 U.S. adult students to study there for two weeks in 2016. My little group was definitely the minority, as the majority of students were from Germany…at least 25 young German women. I asked the school director why there were so few U.S. students there, and he replied that negative news coverage of México by the U.S. media was a big factor. He said that Germans and other Europeans aren’t fed a steady diet of anti-México propaganda. I’d be curious to know how foreign media reporting on mass murders and random violence in the U.S. have affected the number of foreign students who come to study abroad in the United States.
Mr. Thomas, I agree with you at about a 90% level. The information purveyed from the bathroom cloistered U.S. reporters (all media types) is intentionally [of intent] to create a fear of flying – especially to Mexico. But the fact to be faced – reality – is that internet communications available is the sole culprit to be blamed. It wasn’t available (Inet) in span of the fifties through seventies during which numerous ex-military persons studied/graduated from college(s) in Mexico. They took advantage of the G.I. Bill to finance their education. Places (?schools?) like Beaver, Grand Canyon et al pimped study abroad programs too. The G.I. Bill students seldom lowered themselves to participate in those 3 to 6 months scam scenarios.
Travis Bembenek, you spent a semester in Guadalajara and attempt to foist yourself off as an AKRE. Why don’t more students from the U.S.A. opt to waste study abroad time in Mexico? Simple. Europe is, and will always be, the prime study abroad locale. Enrollment is “best easy” in all of Europe when accomplished without use of any “Study Abroad” program offered by U.S. schools. Beaver/Acadia was one of the renown scam schools to avoid given that those enrolled departed six months later suffering extreme knowledge deficit syndrome – a scholastic form of PTSD.
This is Judy Elliott from Columbia, Missouri. I worked as coordinator for Mexico Programs at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, and taught several lower level Spanish courses. I have taken over 500 people to Mexico for Spanish language study. I have had students in Monterrey, Puebla, Guadalajara, Mexico City and I have never found a better spot for beginning Spanish language students than UNINTER in Cuernavaca. In my retirement my husband and I have offered 2 scholarships to third semester Spanish students for study at UNINTER. We have faced the same situation ad David Thomas in the letter above. ”
The language departments and international centers of U.S. colleges, including MU, have to think of their liability if something were to happen to a student they have sent to study abroad. So they have opted for other countries that don’t get the bad press Mexico always has. Cuernavaca has been given a level 3 rating for safety by our US government. This has kept MU from accepting our scholarship to send 2 students to UNINTER where the excellent care and instruction are incredible. What can be done about the level 3 rating? [email protected]
Judy, you have expressed the probllem perfectly. I am a retired unversity professor of graduate studies and know exactly what you are talking about. In my opinion, Mexico is not perceived in a positive light in the U.S. laregely due to the press that thrives on crime and mysery. There are so many positive things happening in Mexico today that are admirable and progressive, but cartels sell newspapers and Americans will never learn about the good qualities of Mexico and its people. Academia could bridge the gap if they joined forces to promote our southern neighbor with credible and resourceful initiatives. The other thing to consider is that Spanish is among the three top languages spoken in the world. It’s a huge asset in many careers and professions. What better place to learn it than in Mexico.