Studying at Florence University of the Arts Past Review
By Steve C (Math, Providence College) for
Fairfield University: Florence - Semester or Year in Italy
yes, my experience abroad was well worth the time and money. it was easily the greatest experience of my life and i wouldnt take it back for anything. i wish i could do it all over again. i suggest lots of travel, but also make sure you get a feel of what it is like to live in your local city, that is very important. try everything, including all foods, and have no regrets.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Florence University of the Arts |
| The term and year this program took place: | Fall 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I couldnt take any courses for my major or minor, so i wasnt terribly interested in a couple of my classes. this made it harder to do well in them. but overall, it was a decent education experience. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
i think they could have given use more useful information on how to interact with the locals, but their trips were a lot of fun and a good way to see more of italy |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
it was great. i lived on via dei pilastri which was huge. i loved our personal backyard. the location wasn't great but it was worth it <br /><br /> everything was great except for the location. it was far away from everything and the streets around it were dangerous |
| * Food: |
good groceries were available but they, with the restaurants, were expensive. i loved the food in florence though, i have never eaten so well in my life |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
we had great field trips and for the most part, the program was well put together |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
i didnt have much reason to feel unsafe in the program, but the lifestyle outside of the classroom could get dangerous |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | just keep watching your bank account. it is VERY easy to spend money |
Language
| Language acquisition improvement? |
i liked my professor a lot and he helped me learn useful information |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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? | i think it was a great choice, and i couldnt have picked a better spot than florence. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Italian Renaissance Architecture |
| Course Department: | Art History LA AH AR 340 |
| Instructor: | Andrea Galdy |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | it was a good course because we would go on lots of field trips and we got to see more of florence than other kids who didnt take the class |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Italian Language Intermediate |
| Course Department: | Italian Studies and Linguistics LA IS II 201 |
| Instructor: | Umberto Gori |
| Instruction Language: | English/Italian |
| Comments: | i loved professor gori. he was very fair and i learned a lot. he was funny and made class entertaining, and he was always willing to help |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Ethics of Globalization |
| Course Department: | Political Science and International Relations LA PS EG 340 |
| Instructor: | Martino Traxler |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | professor traxler was a really nice guy. his course was pretty tough, and demanded a lot, but it was manageable |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Culture Shock: Cross-Cultural Psychology |
| Course Department: | Psychology LA PY CS 310 |
| Instructor: | Francesco Sommariva |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | professor sommariva was a very ncie man. the course was a bit helpful, but every class was pretty much the same and very repetitive. tough to stay awake in class |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Introduction to Environmental Conservation |
| Course Department: | Environmental Studies LS ES EC 300 |
| Instructor: | Mirella Sarti |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | professor sarti spoke very broken english, but she tried to help a lot. she was tough to understand and it was hard to stay awake because she was boring, but she is a sweet lady that wants you to do well |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no |