Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Under the Tuscan Sun Past Review

By (PSYCHOLOGY., Providence College) for

Fairfield University: Florence - Semester or Year in Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Would not trade my four months abroad for anything. I became more independent and confident in myself. It was an opportunity to travel the world and get to study and create in a completely different environment than you would find in the States

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Everyone was very helpful and always happy to discuss what was going on in Florence. Those that came on school trips were great and took the time to hang out with us and get to know us better. It was sometimes difficult however when the school buildings are spread out over the city to find a particular person if I needed to talk to them

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* 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)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
Language acquisition improvement?

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Being in such a historically rich city in terms of art and architecture
  • Taking art classes which took advantage of the museums and the landscapes I lived in
* What could be improved?
  • Attendence Policy: promoted traveling but punished those who missed classes
  • Have the library stay open longer
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Not to stress the little things, it will all work out. Spend as little time inside your apartment as possible; walk around and be a tourist on the occasion in your own city