Great Experience Past Review
By Maria Alegria (Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/01/2018 to 05/19/2018 with
CET Siena
I gained many friendships. I learned how to speak better in Italian. It was definitely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I felt that this was the perfect program for my study abroad experience. It was good enough that I was able to feel like I was learning, especially because some of it was experiential, but not too intensive so that I couldn't experience the culture. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Program administrator on site, Vicky, was absolutely wonderful. She was always there to listen to us and help us adjust to culture and to the school. Absolutely one of the best administrators I have met. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in an apartment. I was lucky to get the apartment above the school, so it was very efficient. There was plenty of room and it was beautiful to live there. I lived with 4 American students and 2 Italian students going to the University of Siena. I felt as if I could immerse myself in the Italian culture through the roommates. They were also an amazing help! |
| * Food: |
I had to provide my own food since I lived in the apartment, but it was easy access to super markets and restaurants. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Although, I could have integrated a little bit more, I know that this is a much better program when it comes to integration than other locations in Italy. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There was a really bad stomach bug that was going around the group and Italy in general. Vicky, the program administrator, helped all of us. I was able to email her, although she also had a phone for emergencies if need be, and get a quick response. I only needed to go to the pharmacy and was able to tell them my symptoms and the pharmacists gave me medication (you do not need a doctor's prescription for medicine in Italy, the pharmacists are qualified to give it to you). I did not need any vaccines for this program. The healthcare was easy to navigate for myself and others that I know used it, especially because our program administrators and the Italian roommates were so helpful. |
| * Safety: |
Siena is extremely safe. No one had any incidents during my stay in the program. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved it. I had the best semester, with a great education, beautiful people, and great integration within the culture. Exactly what I wanted. I do have to say though, that the people in my program with me definitely made it better in comparison to other people's experiences with other study abroad programs. |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 200 euros each week, but that would lessen if I stayed in Siena for the weekend. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan a budget ahead of time and then adjust it after a week or two of being abroad. |
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 |
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| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | ITAL 128 |
| 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? | Immerse yourself in local culture. Talk to the waiters in the language, to the locals, to your professors, to your peers! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
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? | How amazing the people (students, professors, administrator, Italian roommates) were. I would not have been as anxious, but I know that this factor changes every semester, so the experience may not be the same for everyone. |
