Can't wait to go back! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Most classes were very educational, and professors were mostly willing to help. However, I had two classes in which nothing was taught during class. One professor simply seemed as if he did not want to be there, and the other was so difficult to not only talk with but simply understand what he wanted from the students.

On-site administration of your program

The three women running the API Italy program in Roma are very inexperienced at dealing with problems related to pretty much anything. They are highly disorganized and are unwilling to help with problems dealing with housing, roommates, the school, etc. They really need to get some people with experience and willingness to communicate with students and help them out in the best way that they can. We paid a lot of money to this program and were not provided with hardly anything promised by the Italian staff on site!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was decent, our apartment was very far away from the location of the school, but bus passes were provided and almost a necessity. The housing agency that deals with repairs was very unhelpful, and it would take multiple emails and phone calls just to get someone to come to the apartment to fix something. We had multiple problems with our showers and the hot water and after some rather heated arguments with both the program leaders amongst ourselves and parents we got what we needed taken care of toward the very end of the program.

Food in Italy is top-notch! People in local supermarkets are so helpful at finding things for you, and restaurants are always excited to explain their specialty dishes to you, and suggest certain items to you! I highly recommend not only experiment with cooking for yourself with the Italian food sources, but also dining out!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I lived with all American students, which was nice, but it made it hard to practice our Italian as some of us were not even enrolled in an Italian class. We were however set in a part of Roma called Prati where the locals were very helpful and there were not many other tourists!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Healthcare is extremely accessible, I went to the tourist clinic listed in our program booklet and it was completely free. They did not speak much English but were patient with me and used google translator on sight to help with communication barriers. No specific vaccinations were required but there was a lot of strep throat going around. Approximately 4 out of my 8 roommates including myself contracted strep throat, along with many other people in our program which is awfully high.

I always felt relatively safe. For women I suggest not going out alone and leaving with your friends. Italian men can be very aggressive and if you are by yourself it can put you into a situation that you might not be able to handle.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I did exhaust all of money supply by the time I left but it was fairly easy even with traveling, to live on a student budget.

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• Apartment

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• Americans

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• The excursions.
• The apartments.
• Professors.

• New On-sight program managers.
• More university organization.
• More international student interactions!