Mexico » ITESM » Living in Monterrey

LIVING IN MEXICO

The Location

With four distinct locations to choose from, you can’t go wrong in Mexico! Mexico’s size and population offer many different opportunities to experience a country with a sophistication and richness that most U.S. students don’t understand. With 31 states, Mexico rivals the U.S. for complexity and diversity. While each of the cities where Tec campuses are different, they embrace the vitality and richness of Mexico’s history and culture…each has particular advantages and opportunities.

Monterrey

A relatively modern city, Monterrey has experienced significant growth in the past few decades. Its population within the city limits is just over 1.1 million and the surrounding metropolitan area includes approximately 3.2 million inhabitants making Monterrey the third largest city in Mexico behind Mexico City and Guadalajara. Notable, too, is that Monterrey is the business and financial capital of Mexico. With a thriving downtown area, museums, sports facilities, nearby mountains and shops, Monterrey offers students many extracurricular activities.

Cuernavaca

Located about 60 miles south of Mexico City, Cuernavaca is called the “City of Eternal Spring” because of its mild temperatures throughout the year and its eye-catching botanical displays. With a total population of about 350,000, Cuernavaca is a haven for those wishing to escape Mexico City. Conversely, the proximity of Mexico City allows for easy day trips into the city to experience the cultural heritage, arts, and sights of the capital city.

Guadalajara

“The Pearl of the West” is Mexico’s second largest city with a population of about 1.6 million inhabitants; four million if you include the surrounding communities and suburbs. Its “zocalo” or main square is a testament to the rich cultural history of this capital of the state of Jalisco. With its vibrant economy based on high tech, tourism and manufacturing, Guadalajara has been named the “City of the Future” by Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) magazine, a subsidiary publication of The Financial Times.

Queretaro

The city of Queretaro, situated in the State of Queretaro, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its colonial aqueduct as a major landmark and a wonderfully preserved city center, Queretaro embodies the beauty of colonial Mexico. Many international companies have located in and around Queretaro giving it an excellent reputation as a center for business and commerce. With a population of nearly 600,000 inhabitants, Queretaro is large enough to be interesting, and small enough to be very livable.

Accommodations

Each ITESM campus has dormitory facilities and family homestay program. Arrangements for housing are made through the ITESM campus international office where you will study. In some locations, you may also arrange your own apartment. Cooking facilities are available in some dormitories. If you live with a homestay family, you will have meals provided Monday through Saturday. Please note that dormitory regulations are rather strict in comparison by Oregon standards.

On-Site Support

Throughout your stay, you will receive academic and advising support from the ITESM International Office on your campus. Since there is no OUS-employed resident director, students must be prepared to work with local advisors and with staff on your home campus in Oregon.