I did it all! Past Review
By megan.kessler.3 (BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES., Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/23/2013 to 05/11/2013 with
CET Siena
How to deal with people
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I was very upset by the level of art history teaching at this program. It was below what I am used to at Brandeis. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Program director was excellent! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had the nicest homestay in the history of study abroad. Way exceeded my expectations. I think everyone who does this program should choose the homestay option. |
| * Food: |
Delicious meals every night. Traditional Italian cooking. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I became part of my host families Sienese life. It was so touching. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Never got sick once because my house mother fed me so well. |
| * Safety: |
Siena is the safest city in Italy |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
All I had to pay for was my daily lunch. You pay a larger upfront cost to do the homestay, but you end up saving so much money because buying your own food and living in the student apartment adds up. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Food about 50 euro per week, but I spent a lot each weekend traveling. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Do the homestay and you will save money. |
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 |
Encouraged at school, but in my homestay I was fully immersed in Italian at all times. |
| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Italian 128a- 5th semester of college level 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? | Do the homestay |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | I wish I knew to bring warmer clothes and that my program was going to be so small. 9 girls and 1 guy was not exactly what I was looking for and I didn't know this was going to be the size since no one at Brandeis informed me. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
