Hey fodorites. I am a college student considering Madrid or Seville for a student exchange program. I will be there for a full semester begining on January through June, so I have to decide ASAP.
I know that Madrid is more populated than Seville and it also has the city life I like, but I have heard many people compare Seville to other college towns in England and the States (which I like). So, which city would you recommed and why?

I did a term abroad myself (Bath England)- it was wonderful, I'm planning a trip to Spain right now, so I haven't been yet, but I've heard that Seville has a great city & night life as well. It was great being in a smaller town and being able to go everywhere. Seville is only a 1&1/2 to 2 hr train ride from Madrid and then you are closer to Costa Del Sol and Gibralta. I'm sure you will travel a lot on weekends anyway!

I would pick Seville in a heartbeat! Have a wonderful time (my daughter is a pinkfloyd fan too--which is funny 'cause I saw them in London years ago when I was about your age!)

I'm 27 and love the big city, but personally, if you want to feel like you're in Spain, go to Seville. I've been to Madrid and loved it's international flavor, but that's good and bad. Good because I love the city, bad because it reminded me of so many other metropolitan areas I've already visited. For a more unique experience, with the big city feel, I would go to Seville without question. Have a great time! I wish I had studied abroad!

I'll try to be as impartial as I can being from Seville and having a husband that I met while he was studying here for a semester also...

SEVILLE!

It's a lot more walkable, people are more sociable and friendlier to students, lots of american student atmosphere so you can have your pick of hanging out with americans, spaniards, or the best of all, both at the same time. It's a big city but also retains a lot of the small town atmosphere, everybody ends up knowing someone you know, or being their neighbour, etc.

Finally, its location allows you to do hundreds of weekend trips (there are lots of days off for the students, specially in the spring semester )to beach, country or other cities like Granada or Madrid in under 3 hours trip.

I loved both of these cities but for an exchange program student(6 months) , I think Sevilla is better. You can always visit Madrid and other places as suggested here , also driving across to Portugal's southern coast is just GREAT(it's like the California of Europe).Oh I always think Madrid is pretty much Spain's cultural center though it's very metropolitan , it's Barcelona that has the more international flavor and less distint Spainish.

I spent three weeks in Spain and since I am a big-city person, I expected Madrid to be my favorite Spanish city. While I greatly enjoyed Madrid, I fell in love with Seville. You won't go wrong with either city, but Seville would be my choice.

Thank you all for your help. I was considering Seville more than Madrid, but know I think I will definetely go there. It seems like a great city!

BTW, kappyl: I went to Bath a couple of years ago. It was beautiful and great!

Seville! I liked it much more than Madrid - it is what I imagined Spain would be like. Plus, as others have noted, it is really walkable, friendly, and wonderful.