ECCO Bologna: I would do it again! Past Review
By Lorena M (Cinema And Media Studies, Wellesley College) for
Eastern College Consortium (ECCO): Bologna - Università di Bologna Study Abroad Program
Yes
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | No more than one: University of Bologna |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Good |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Program Strengths - Courses and trips were well organized and very interesting. Program Weakness - Finding a living facility free of cigarette smoke. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Overall, aesthetics, neighborhood safety, nightlife, and university life was good. |
| * Food: |
AMAZING! (very good prizes for quality food). Moreover, ECCO offered us an opportunity to take cooking classes. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100 euro |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | We needed to pay gym membership on the side on a monthly basis in order to use gym facilities. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intensive Italian 203 |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Yes - we were expected to speak Italian with roommates, professors, and program staff members. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Eat your pizza. |
