Best Semester of College! Past Review
By Stephanie G (Communication, Purdue University) for
CIMBA: Paderno del Grappa - Undergraduate Program
What I liked most about CIMBA was that it is in a small, quaint Italian town where you get to experience authentic Italian life. It isn't a tourist area, and therefore was a very honest experience. We had 2 9-day travel breaks and 2 long weekends, allowing over 30 days of travel. I went to 32 different cities, 6 countries, and still got a fantastic education. I liked that there was so much leadership development, and the CIMBA faculty helped me clarify my professional goals for after graduation. A really great program for communication and business students.
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Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The class sizes are really small, which allowed me to work closely with my professors. The classes were taught in English, which was great because I didn't speak Italian. There were many classes that transferred directly back to my university, which kept me on track for graduation. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The office at CIMBA was very helpful whenever we had questions. They spoke English and acted as translators when we needed help. I had a medical issue while abroad, and CIMBA was incredibly helpful in getting it resolved. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My dorm room was HUGE. I shared it, we had 2 bathrooms, and a beautiful balcony. There was a cleaning service that came through 2 times a week, and we had new linens and towels every week. The living was really safe, the campus was gated so I never felt insecure. The town is very quaint, so everyone there knows eachother and it is very secure. |
| * Food: |
The food is cafeteria style, so students don't have to worry about cooking. There is typically a pasta course, meat, vegetable, fruit, and dessert option for your meals. In town there is a Tabacci (Italian convenience store) with literally the best sandwiches you have ever had in your life, a pizzeria with incredible pizza, and access to nearby towns with great Italian food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Our program arranged: Add a Seat to the Table (where you eat with an Italian family in their home), Date with a Professor (where we went out with our professors in groups and explored Italy), Pizza Making, Wine Tours, Company Tours in the Veneto, weekend trips to various destinations, Leadership certification opportunities, personal development and coaching programs |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The campus was gated, so we never had an issue with crime or safety. There is a nurse on staff and the office is willing to help with any health concerns you have. |
| 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I took Italian for Travelers while abroad, which is where I learned the most Italian. I also learned through interacting with Italian students, traveling, and various activities on campus. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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