Don't waste your time and money on Florence University of the Arts Past Review
By Isabelle (University of Vermont) - abroad from 01/29/2018 to 05/09/2018 with
Florence University of The Arts: Florence - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned so much about myself and the world, yet very little academically because of the low standard of the school. However it was still worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It seems as though most professors and the administration as a whole does not care to take the time to be organized and provide a worthwhile educational experience. The library has limited hours (closes at 8:30 pm most nights), there is NO printer that the students can use, and students have to drop off their belongings in a locker when using the library. Professors do not put their email or any personal information on the syllabus (i.e. their name). Professors do not have office hours. Professors put books on the syllabus that are OUT OF PRINT and tell you to get them at a bookstore (where you will be told that they are no longer available). Professors assign readings which page numbers do not match up to the textbook. Professors do not adhere to the plans on the syllabus and change it without warning. Terrible attendance policy: we are only allowed one absence until it starts affecting our grade, and there are no such things as excused absences even for health reasons. Watch out for the hidden course fees. I wasn't warned and I ended up racking 200 euros in course fees that need to be paid in cash. Despite the course fees, we used public transportation on a field trip which caused us to be an hour late getting back to Florence. Apicius (cooking school) does not let us take home cooked food. Leftovers are thrown into a bin with other waste. We pay for the ingredients with a course fee yet we are forced to thrown away and they do not have a license to let us take it, though they run the school cafe Fedora and restaurant Ganzo. I spent 100 euro on this course-- it just does not add up. Italian Vegetarian Cooking is not a cooking course at all. We cook about three times. The rest of the time we learn about vegetables. Cross cultural psychology has nothing to do with psychology in different cultures. We focus on our own personal experiences in a different culture. Again, very misleading. This is not a real school, this is a company trying to make money. It is not serious, it is careless, and it is a rip off. Never waste your time and money here. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
SAI programs is great however. I think they should disaffiliate with FUA. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
I did not buy a meal plan |
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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? |
No
I love SAI, I love Florence, I love traveling and I had an amazing time. However FUA is an absolute joke of a "school." I would never ever go here if I could do it all over again. |
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? | 60 euro |
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 |
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| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Travel outside of Florence into smaller cities and use the language |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 0 |
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? | FUA is a fake school and does not offer real study programs |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
