Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I Want to Go Back! Past Review

By (University of Hartford) - abroad from 01/06/2019 to 05/11/2019 with

CIEE: Rome - Open Campus

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned better communication skills and independence. This was definitely a worthwhile experience.

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.

Some professors were more dedicated than others and it was occasionally hard to understand accents but overall I enjoyed my courses.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

CIEE open campus did amazing with this... we had clear instruction sessions at the beginning of each block.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Paris would be my only issues reguarding housing as I had many roommate issues.... - I was placed with students not in my program - I was placed in a co-ed apartment When neither of these were mentioned in the pre-departure materials

* Food:

The food that CIEE provided whether it be on study tours, during our arrival or departure meals, or in general was amazing!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Berlin would be the one place I did not feel fully integrated as everything was right there (classes were in the same building as dorms, etc), but besides that I felt very immersed.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

N/A

* Safety:

In Rome I had a situation that made me feel uncomfortable but the staff were able to assist me right away to ameliorate the situation.

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

I would possibly pick different locations just because I fell in love more and more with certain places that I traveled to.

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)

5

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50-60
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Go grocery shopping! I would not recommend eating out all the time as it does add up quickly. Grocery shopping gets you immersed with locals and you're still able to eat traditional cuisine.

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

Berlin was the best with language encouragement as there were signs all throughout the program location telling you how to use the language in specific scenarios. Outside of that I felt that English was my primary language in both Rome and Paris with little change.

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? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? German I
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Force yourself to use it- order food using the language, duo lingo, buying language books.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • 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?
  • The ability to move block to block.
  • The "survival kits"- CIEE providing us with metro passes, maps, etc.
* What could be improved?
  • More opportunities to meet other students that are going abroad in the same program before leaving.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? PACK LESS! I brought a lot more that I ended up needing with me to the extent that going home was very stressful as I ended up gaining a lot more while abroad.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.