Every year, WashU sends hundreds of students to study abroad on programs around the world, but few come from universities to study abroad here. One such student is Antonio Martínez, a junior studying economics from Madrid, Spain. Martínez goes to the University of Carlos III de Madrid, and is one of two students from his university at WashU this year.

Martínez said he chose to come to WashU for his junior year mainly for the great academic recognition of WashU both nationally and internationally, and for the excellent resources and facilities that the university offers. WashU was one of his top choices when selecting a university for his exchange program in the United States, and it was ultimately the one assigned by his university.

Since the University of Carlos III is right in the middle of a city, Martínez was used to walking everywhere — on and off campus. However, Martínez said he is finding that if he wants to go off campus, he needs to go via car.

“I’m used to go to everywhere walking, that is one of the main differences between American and European cities,” Martínez said. “You can take the metro, and you can be anywhere in a moment. And here that is much different.”

Martínez added that classes, including economics, are taught differently at WashU than in Madrid. There is more day-to-day work, rather than just cumulative final assessments. 

“I like how the classes are organized here. I feel that in some ways [they are] more collaborative and focus on the day-to-day,” Martínez said. “It is a more practical approach to the things that you are learning than only having one exam at the end of the semester.”

 However, while both systems are different, Martínez said that one is not better than the other.

“I find it interesting to have the option to be in both ways of studying and to know both of them,” Martínez said.

Aside from economics, Martínez said that he is interested in philosophy, history, sports, and music. In Madrid, Martínez is involved in his university’s financial association. This led him to join the real estate club at WashU.

Martínez said he does not feel like he is missing out on his junior year in Madrid, especially because many of his friends are also studying abroad in the United States. One of his friends is at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, another is at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, and two are at University of California schools. 

“You have all your life to live in your country — I think that if you have the opportunity to live for one year outside, whatever you would do outside is going to be more interesting than the alternative.”