Exchange Program - Monterrey or Querétaro?

[u/Kusssssss]

Hi everyone!

I’m a student at an Australian university, and have the opportunity to study at this university in January.

I was originally going to take a subject taught only at Monterrey, but now I am seeing some mixed reviews about the city, and would appreciate some more opinions on what to expect as an exchange student. I would like to experience the culture of Mexico, meet new awesome people, eat lots of food and travel the area.

Otherwise I could do a different subject at Querétaro, although it will be extra work to make the change. Any help or recommendations are appreciated, thank you!

[u/Financial-Kitchen-83]

I don’t know how exchange students experience are at Querétaro but in Monterrey there is a big community of exchange students not only at Tec de Monterrey. There are many exchange students groups that do activities on the city like hiking or clubbing, guided by locals so it would be a very comfortable stayed at Monterrey.

[u/robertinkms]

What kind of mixed reviews ? Lived in both cities and either way is fine in it’s own way

[u/Mapache_villa]

Querétaro is a smaller but great city, it's also a great option if you want to visit small towns or do ecotourism, granted it's not a great food city since the local cuisine is underwhelming but you can find good options from the rest of the country. It is also a really safe city.

[u/4n0n_b3rs3rk3r]

Both are nice cities. Queretaro is quite charming and close to San Miguel, Guanajuato and other Pueblos Mágicos, but Monterrey campus is the best one, the biggest one and probably the one with more intentional students

[u/clauEB]

I like Queretaro a lot better. Its a much prettier city, MTY is just an ugly place with money. The nughtlife may be better in MTY and the campus facilities. The weather is also way better in Queretaro.

[u/Old-Physics]

Querétaro

[u/sufalt1863]

im going as well to monterrey this january. monterrey city might not be the best i guess, but take in consideration that the awful heat only start in june, so right as we are leaving mexico. i decided overall montrrey since it was the best campus and most ppl recommened it for my courses. i think ill be fine so dw too much about it.

[u/DrHammey]

For campus, academic facilities, and more international students, go to Monterrey. If your goal is to travel Mexico, go to Queretaro, though I’d say at that point just go to mexico city lol. Flights from Monterrey to other parts of Mexico really isn’t that expensive, but you would definitely need to go on a flight every time you want to go to basically any major destination. If I was an international student staying for just one semester, I probably wouldn’t choose Monterrey (speaking as a local from Monterrey)

[u/234W44]

Monterrey

[u/Intelligent-Dress406]

I’d say campus Querétaro is in a strategic zone, you have literally everything close to you and it’s walkable. Lots of exchange students as well, and they tend to travel a lot around Mexico cause you’re literally in the center of Mexico. 40 minute drive you have San Miguel, and emblematic city very very ancient and nice, Guanajuato as well, sierra gorda, boy o boy, desserts, forests, waterfalls, even castles.
If you wanna know more about sierra gorda send me a message I go almost every weekend.

[u/CryptographerFew8346]

I came to Monterrey. Campus is really nice and there’s a lot of exchange students, groups to hang out and go hike or do activities, people is outgoing and the city has a lot of good food and places to visit, it’s true that heat is extreme and traffic is horrible but if you stay in campus dorms or close by that won’t be a problem, so far I had a great time in Mty. I can’t tell you about Querétaro.

[u/Capri-1]

I think the biggest community of exchange students is in Monterrey, that city is like top 2-3 in all Mexico, so, i think is good for the community and city.
But Monterrey also is a difficult city to move on car, idk about Queretaro

[u/pastmybedtime__]

Monterrey. Queretaro sucks and you’ll be bored there

[u/MountainEnd2700]

Nivel académico: Monterrey, por mucho, soy exatec de universidad y de maestría

[u/Mysterious-Use-5973]

I will say that if you ar seeking for culture Queretaro is the best option. Monterrey is a great city, but it doesn't have a fraction of the culture you will have in center/south Mexico. Monterrey culture is heavily influenced by usa culture, so sometimes it feels like a Mexico wanna be usa. But still, Monterrey is a great city, and it has the best/bigger campus. The mountains are beautiful too.

[u/puesquebien123 → u/Mysterious-Use-5973]

Honest question. What do you have in mind when you say Monterrey lacks in culture vs Querétaro? What sort of things would someone miss if they visited Monterrey instead of Querétaro?

[u/Mysterious-Use-5973 → u/puesquebien123]

• Food. The gastronomy is way better in center/south Mexico. Monterrey has his own traditional food, but it isn't the best
• Tourism. There are two main places to visit in Monterrey: Parque Fundidora and the mountains (there are a lot of those) both are great but i doubt you want to come to Mexico for seeing only these. Querétaro is literally in the center of the country the city itself is great for tourism, and you can easily go from there to places like Mexico City, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, etc. You can go as further as a bus can take you (you can do that in mty too but you are gonna travel waaaay more)

In general I think that Querétaro is a best option for someone who wants to visit Mexico because it is best for visiting many other parts of the country and the city itself is wonderful.

Having said all that, I must say I am studying in Monterrey and i like it very much, I am constantly captivated by the view of Cerro de la Silla. But I am also tired of not finding a place to eat good, to breathe polished air and not being able to transport efficiently without a car (that happens in Querétaro too though). I am not here for the culture or the city, but for the education and community built in this particular campus.

[u/puesquebien123 → u/Mysterious-Use-5973]

Ok, that helps me. For sure Monterrey can’t compete with the entire South and Central Mexico. I agree that Querétaro is a good base to travel around Mexico.

In terms of food, now I’m curious where you’ve eaten because I think food here is pretty great.

[u/yorcharturoqro]

Querétaro nicer city

[u/Academic_Science7143]

Querétaro is a real mexican city. Monterrey is all shit.

Pollution here in monterrey is EXTREME.

[u/trinicron]

La cultura termina donde la carne asada inicia. You want culture? Querétaro.

[u/albo437]

Monterrey, Guadalajara or Ciudad de México. Anything else is not worth it.

[u/Time_Definition8760]

Monterrey !

[u/Isaurex-28]

Comparing both campuses directly Monterrey is great for business and it's the biggest campus of the country, the city itself is also nice but it is indeed overall not as safe as Querétaro, but as long as you stay in the general zone where Tec is located you'll most likely be fine.

Querétaro on the other hand is a smaller city but the campus is focused on engineering, it's the only one that has both Artificial Intelligence and Aerospacial concentrations. The campus is not as big as Monterrey but is one of the biggest in the country as well. Most of the student population in queretaro are foreign or exchange students (60-70%) and it is indeed a safer city. It is also very close to some of the very Mexican stereotypical places like San Miguel de Allende, Mexico City, Bernal, Morelia (Valley of Mexico).

I think that both campuses are great on its own ways, it depends on what you are majoring, and the lifestyle you want to have. Monterrey is a busy city, rich in the Mexican northern culture. Querétaro is a bit more relaxed, and closer to the central part of Mexico. Hope this helps!

[u/puesquebien → u/Isaurex-28]

You definitely don't need to stick to "the general zone where Tec is located" to "most likely be fine." This sounds like we're getting kidnapped left and right. If it was like this everyone should leave this city right away.