Best semester of school yet! Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/11/2016 to 05/13/2016 with
IES Abroad: Milan - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
It was absolutely worthwhile. The experience really taught me how to be an individual and get by in a foreign city and foreign culture.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
This is really what you make it to be. If you want to be more culturally immersed, there are certainly opportunities to do so. People do speak English although it is not as common as other cities in Europe. If you have an extremely basic knowledge of Italian you should be fine. |
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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? |
Yes
I loved every minute of the program and would definitely do it again. I would also consider other programs in Italy but that is a personal preference and I have no regrets about choosing Milan. |
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? | Approximately $100. Depends on how much you go out and go do activities. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Nothing in particular. Would highly recommend creating a budget and factoring in how many trips you plan to take. |
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? | Intermediate |
| 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? | 200-level 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? | Give it a chance. Sometimes you will talk to people in Italian and they will respond in English, but most people know that you're foreign and are patient with you. You should use the language as much as possible. |
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? | 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? | I wish I had a better idea of the costs of going abroad. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
