Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best Decision of My Life Past Review

By (Business Administration, University of Kansas) - abroad from 09/04/2011 to 12/03/2011 with

CIMBA: Paderno del Grappa - Undergraduate Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Patience, adaptability, dozens of friends

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Mostly great professors, all of whom have diverse backgrounds and are excited to be abroad. Homework is maybe 90 minutes/day. Classes are very discussion and group oriented

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Mostly helpful and enthusiastic. Internet cards should be offered in place of slow WiFi or ethernet

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Love the dorm setup and having housecleaning

* Food:

Cafeteria and after-hours food options could be improved; local food options in town though are very good

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

Staying local is very cheap, so other costs are up to where you decide to go outside of town

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Really depended on where I went
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan week long trips in geographic clusters

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* 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? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • People
  • Built in travel breaks (27 days)
  • Gourmet dinners
* What could be improved?
  • Internet
  • Cafeteria
  • Shuttles to train station
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Pack a little lighter

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.