Go Abroad! Past Review
By A student (Cornell University) - abroad from 01/10/2012 to 05/04/2012 with
API (Academic Programs International): Rome - John Cabot University
YES!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I had 3 international professors (2 British ones and a Danish one) and 2 Italian professors. The international professors were pretty good and well qualified. The Italian ones were awful. The administration at John Cabot couldn't run a kindergarten class if they really wanted to. They are really rigid about attendance and many absurd rules. That said, I did learn alot in my on-site Ancient Rome class with a great professor. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
API was fine. They trips they ran are pretty good but they don't offer much else. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My apartment had no common room and had 7 girls living in it. It was really far from the University and even further from night life. It was located behind a school so we were woken up before 8 every morning when they kids played outside. They provided no housekeeping service (which every other program in Rome did). |
| * Food: |
It's Italy! Although, don't step foot in the John Cabot cafeteria! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Not at all. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Insurance doesn't go through and the medical care is pretty poor. If you have a real issue, go to Switzerland. |
| * Safety: |
No problems. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
traveling is expensive |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | No |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Book your weekend trips as far in advance as you can |
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 |
Only in class. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | none |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
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? | Not to live in API housing |
