Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Study Abroad in Rome: get the most out of your experience Past Review

By (Psychology, University of San Diego) for

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Rome, Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I feel that I now have a broader world view and can understand and relate to different cultures. This experience has made me much more confident about traveling on my own and about experiencing new things.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: CEA, John Cabot
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My workload was slightly easier than that of my home institution but I still found it quite challenging. I feel that I learned a lot and professors were very helpful for the most part.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Staff was very knowledgeable and helpful. The program was small so they could be very hands-on and help with any need.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The apartments are very close to the campus and are very nice. If we ever had any problems, the staff would coordinate having them fixed. However, sometimes it took quite a while to get problems solved.

* Food:

delicious food but e prepared for lots of carbs! It is difficult to find good servings of meat.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The program provided many trips and cultural excursions included in the program price.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

CEA has an emergency phone line that we could call if we ever had a problem, day or night. They would also help us schedule doctors appointments if we needed to go.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
Language acquisition improvement?

Practice language with the locals. The best to practice with are people who work in cafes that you frequent or in supermarkets. Choose people you see several times a week and start up conversations with them. Although some people speak English here, I do have to use my Italian daily.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • staff- always helpful and friendly
  • many opportunities with the program to explore Italy
  • location- Rome has so much to offer
* What could be improved?
  • faster service with maintenance problems in apartments
  • campus open later in the evening for studying
  • study days before finals at the end of the semester
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Students will benefit from this program who are looking to learn a ton and come back completely enriched. Cultural emersion is a must-- you cannot go to the grocery store or a cafe without speaking some Italian. You really get the most out of your study abroad by seeing so much art and history within your own city.