Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Reviews

"If you are a Republican steer clear of this school. As a military veteran, the students’ are encouraged by their rich parents’ and entitlement to spew years of liberal speech, which they know nothing about. After having fought 2 years in Iraq, this school is a complete disappointment and and entitlement to the white privilege they pretend to teach against. Spend your money elsewhere."

"Highly negative experience, highly toxic environment. I hope I can encourage others to steer clear. The program is advertised as a terminal master's degree, focused on graduating professionals ready for the work force. This is, however, NOT a terminal master's degree. The program is designed at preparing students for graduate scholarship. Most professors (with one, maybe two exceptions) do not come from an education background. They are unqualified to prepare you for the classroom, as they do not have experience teaching ESL. You will graduate and not know how to teach; you will learn a lot ABOUT teaching, but not how to teach. A school full of naively idealistic students and professors who never grew up."

"I graduated a few months ago, and I had a pretty poor experience here. Barring a few classes, the rigor and quality of the education was quite subpar, and I left feeling very disappointed. Most of the classes were similar to what I took as an undergraduate, but far easier and far less informative, engaging, and useful. Having worked on campus as well, I can say that many of the MIIS faculty were not welcoming, and did not make it easy to be the new person on the block. I took my time going back to graduate school because I wanted to make sure that it was worth my time and money, and I definitely made a mistake when I decided to invest in MIIS."

"The school is famous for language, and these language programs are very traditionally rigorous and will definitely prepare you for a job in the industry. However, there is a current surge in technology that people are focusing on lately that is very relevant to people within the language field. The TLM program is new and budding but constantly growing and improving."

"Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey is a very international institution with a variety of specific programs. My program, Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies, was a two year degree. Although stronger on nonproliferation, the program was very well organized. Each professor was willing to help every student in any way possible. Their expertise was not limited to academic, but also real-world experience."

"It was great but expensive. Worth it for the small class size and great professors"

"My graduate program is one of a kind, having a focus on both Nonproliferation and Terrorism studies. Since it is a new program, it is far from perfect, but the career support is great and it is easy to find opportunities with the help of the staff. I recommend this program for people who are interested in such a field."

"The Monterey Institute of International Studies is a highly competent, extremely well-connected graduate institution that treats its students as alumni from day one. The career advising center works with you every step of the way and does everything in their power to help get you where you want to be, as if the experience in the classroom isn't enough already. The coursework is highly practical; students gain clients and manage case studies within their first semester of classes, so before you even graduate, your resume is absolutely transformed. The only negative thing I could say in relation to MIIS is that like any worthwhile academic endeavor, the course load is a serious one. Also, the Monterey Bay area is particularly expensive, even by California's standards."

"The Institute has a strong focus on professional development and on skills demanded by the fields of study. Career building and networking are part of the school culture. Lots of of opportunities for first hand work experience and education/internships abroad."

"The staff and faculty is quite accessible and always willing to answer any questions. The only concern with this university and program is the cost. The tuition is very high, although they do offer some excellent financial aid packages and scholarships. The cost of living in Monterey is among the highest in the state, which of course is an additional concern."

"Pros: diversity of study body, international focus of the all programs, small class sizes, ability to attract professors and speakers who are the leaders in their fields Cons: expensive costs"

"The best part of the Monterey Institute of International Studies is the student diversity and the level of education. I really enjoy the in-class discussions and what each student brings with them from their previous experiences and cultures, as well as the professors. There really aren't too many cons except for the price of the school and the cost of living in Monterey, CA but it's well worth it in my opinion."

"It is a very practical program that teaches us real skills we are going to need going into the International Education Management field. The only con is that it is a new program and they need to iron out some wrinkles in the course syllabus ."

"MIIS offers a dual degree option: Public Administration and International Education Management. That's the option I have chosen and I will have both degrees in 5 semesters. MIIS is very hands-on. In my marketing class, student groups design and budget a strategic campaign for a real organization that has agreed to work with us. In my policy analysis class, we are designing a research study that we are then going to gather data for during a 3 week visit to Peru, and we will be making recommendations to the district government where we work. For my program we are also required to have an internship of 4-6 months."

"Great professors, great courses, great life. Lack of sufficient scholarships hurts the students too much."

"As an incoming graduate student at MIIS, I have spent the summer learning basic Spanish via the school's Summer Intensive Language Program. This program will help toward my overall degree and I am very happy with the school so far. I have had an excellent teacher who has provided an effective way to learn the language, I have met many other staff and faculty who have been courteous and helpful, and I have felt extremely comfortable while on campus. These are all things that I wanted in a graduate school and I am happy to say that I found them at MIIS."

"The public administration program at the Monterey Institute is led by some of the most recognized social change agents in the field. The program not only focuses on the academic development of the students but ensures students are involved in the community putting their studies into practice in the field. The program makes sure that students are able to step into management positions and become leaders in social change organizations. Classes are small in the number of students and the faculty become colleagues and not just teachers. Unfortunately the tuition is expensive and the living costs in the area is also high. There isn't much financial support in the form of scholarships from the school."

"I enjoy my school and love the environment. The professors and other faculty members are always willing to help in an capacity. Monterey is a beautiful city and with many beautiful sites however in the transportation area it can be difficult to get to certain places if you do not have a car. The bus schedules run few and far between."

"Monterey Institute has developed degree programs that are constantly looking for ways to improve upon the framework. It has a diverse student population with not only different backgrounds, but different ways of viewing the world. The degree programs are very flexible, leaving it up to the student to pursue the career goals that they have set for themselves. The staff and faculty are devoted to helping students find the career that are looking for through extensive networks."

"At the Monterey Institute, a student is able to customize his/her specific degree to fit his/her career goals. Example, I will be graduating with a concentration in Trade, Investment and Development. However, within that degree program, I was able to take classes in export control, trade and shipping as well as commercial diplomacy and my focus on China and the Chinese language has given me the knowledge to better understand the US-China trade relationship. However, this type of program may be difficult for a student who is still figuring out what they want in a graduate program."