Wish I could Study Abroad again! Past Review

By (Math, Villanova University) - abroad from 01/09/2012 to 05/12/2012 with

Arcadia: Florence - Accademia Italiana Florence

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
responsibility, independence, everything. Definitely worthwhile, just a great experience

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: accademia italiana
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There was a good amount of assigned work

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

helpful

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

When trying to speak Italian, they normally spoke English back to me

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

There was a drug dealer on my corner every night, when we addressed the issue, they said there was nothing they could do about it

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

Finances

* 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)

was expensive

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 200

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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? intro 1
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • being in italy!
  • ability to travel- no classes friday
  • living on one side of the city and school on the other
* What could be improved?
  • more trips planned as a group
  • more integration of international students with americans in classes
  • more involvement with italians
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? how much a fashion school it was, there wasn't many other courses to choose from which had italian or international students in it