Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Milan Summer Internship Past Review

By (Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 06/03/2015 to 07/31/2015 with

IES Abroad: Milan - Study Abroad With IES Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The most important thing I gained from this summer abroad was the work experience - my internship was perfect for my career goals, and having international experience doesn't hurt. It was worthwhile, although it may not have been worth the cost if I hadn't had such a good internship placement.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes weren't great - Italian was okay if you put the work into it, but the internship seminar was not very useful.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

(Food wasn't provided by the program at all, but of course the food available in Italy was great!)

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was a little difficult with the language barrier, but having Italian students live in the apartments with us was nice.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

My only healthcare issue was dental, so not life-threatening, but it is worth noting that I did not receive a response when I contacted the IES center about it.

* 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)

Milan isn't particularly cheap, but it isn't too hard to grocery shop effectively.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 60 euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Learn to make lots of pasta and fresh foods - it's cheaper and how the Italians eat anyway.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

As far as language goes it definitely depends what you put into it - you could get by with no Italian at all but you also had plenty of opportunities to practice.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? n/a
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? Make sure to actually practice with your CA and make an effort in the Italian class, even if the grade doesn't transfer to your home institution.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • The internship program
  • The housing
  • Living abroad
* What could be improved?
  • The internship seminar
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That the credits wouldn't transfer anyway, so I didn't need to bother applying through my school, spending extra money, and wasting time in the more hours version of the seminar.

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 Adventurer
The 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.