One semester is just enough to change the rest of your life Past Review
By Colin Davidson (Alfred State College - SUNY College of Technology) - abroad from 01/21/2017 to 05/13/2017 with
Alfred State: Architecture Studies in Italy
I think that the most valuable experience that I gained from this program was the cultural experience. When you live in a place for so long you start to realize how different cultures of the world operate and how they each have different nuances from country to country or even city to city sometimes.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in an apartment with 5 guys. The apartment was more than spacious. It was an extremely nice living arrangement. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The Alfred State program in association with Sant'Anna Lingue offers a well rounded, total immersion program. The location is unlike any other in the world. The courses and the education program are outstanding. All while you are living in a different culture both in Italy and over all of Europe depending on how much you want to travel. This truly is a program that will change your life. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
If needed you can spend a very small amount of money on food, especially if you make food for yourself. On the other hand, it is very hard to not want to try all the wonderful foods here in Italy. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 75-150$ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eating at home during the week allows you to go and try new restaurants on the weekend or just for general traveling. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Level 5 Spanish - No prior Italian courses |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Try and immerse yourself in as many situations that you can that force you or encourage you to use the host language. Taking something like the language that you learned is a very rewarding feeling. (And people at home with always ask you if you can speak the language) |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would have liked to known what the actual surrounding area of Sorrento has to offer. I never knew how great Capri, Ischia, Naples, and the Amalfi Coast were. If I had known that I would have liked to plan out some more trips and tried to experience as much as I could. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
