Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Rome If You Want To! Past Review

By (Providence College) - abroad from 08/22/2017 to 12/02/2017 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Rome, Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Oh gosh- I gained so much from this experience! A lot of it you just have to experience for yourself. Everyone will gain something different from living abroad. It was most definitely worthwhile!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

A tad easier than my home courses- not as much access to outside resources as I had hoped- had to rely on home university

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Mostly good- sometimes didn't respond for days, sometimes would be sassy to students

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Any problems were addressed quickly

* Food:

Didn't have any

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Definitely some attempts with the cooking class and opera but other than that we had no exposure to the culture outside class

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

N/A

* Safety:

Just be smart and prepared

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

Studying abroad is the best choice I have ever made. Studying abroad in Rome is the second best choice I have ever made. Rome is a central location filled with so much culture and history- you could live here for years and still not seeing everything! Applying was simple and CEA was always there throughout the process to answer any questions I (or my mother..) had. The CEA Rome Center definitely encouraged us to see as much as we could. They were always available for an in-person meeting (however, e-mail isn't as reliable). Everyone there really wanted to make sure we felt at home and learned the Roman way. They were all so enthusiastic to show us Rome and learn more about their students. They always asked to make sure they were doing everything they could to help us. My classes were interesting- perhaps not as rigorous as my home university but definitely more interesting. Three out of my five courses (New Testament, Stoic Philosophy, and Art History) had amazing on-site classes on a weekly basis. My Italian class had monthly culture immersions. This was definitely a highlight of the program. Being able to be on-site almost every day of our Monday-Thursday class week enhanced the experience ten times. I have no regrets choosing Rome and CEA!!!

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)

If you plan travels and dining out accordingly then everything else is reasonable on a student budget

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan traveling early and budget accordingly on it- it does get expensive. Do not expect to dine out everyday as it does get very expensive

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

MARIO IS THE BEST ITALIAN TEACHER. He always encouraged us to use our Italian :)

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
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? AP Italian
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 to use it in the stores and restaurants. Mostly every Italian we met was sympathetic to us and kindly corrected and helped us

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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • On-Site Courses
  • Easy for Travel
* What could be improved?
  • Cultural Immersion
  • Timely Responses
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You will be surrounded by American kids 90% of your time here. Make use of that other 10% and put yourself into the culture.

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 Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.