Difficulties with housing, but overall good. August 10, 2024
By A student (English and Italian, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/20/2024 to 05/23/2024 with
Eastern College Consortium (ECCO): Bologna - Università di Bologna Study Abroad Program
My Italian improved so much, and I made some good friends.
Personal Information
| 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 academic rigor, but I would have loved more University of Bologna exposure, rather than just 1 course. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Good! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Not satisfied/poor experience. |
| * Food: |
Good stipend. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Great! I integrated well and made good friends with my roommates and other students. However, I had to switch housing a month after arriving, which made it difficult. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
My program assisted me by connecting me to a doctor. However, he often made mistakes, and when I was sick examinations felt very rushed. |
| * Safety: |
Safety was good! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I liked the academic structure. |
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) |
The budget and stipend was good. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $140 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cook a lot, meal prep, don't eat out for lunch. |
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 |
My Italian improved so much! |
| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Italian 300 literature course. |
| 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? | Try to meet people, talk to your housemates, only speak to them in Italian! Try to eat dinner and cook together. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? |
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? | It might be cold and rainy, so prepare for that! |
