All of Europe in 4 months Past Review
By A student (Villanova University) - abroad from 08/30/2016 to 12/16/2016 with
IES Abroad: Milan - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I became more independent, learned how to interact with people who had very different lives than I had, and gained a knowledge of the world around me. I learned to disconnect from technology and saw some of the most beautiful sights I will ever see in my life.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My classes weren't very difficult, however I didn't go abroad with the goal of taking challenging courses. I went to take classes that weren't offered at my home institution and to live in a new city so it was exactly what I was looking for. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
IES Milan has a wonderful administration. Everyone is so kind and helpful and they all seem to genuinely love their jobs. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Every apartment I saw were beautiful, clean, and much larger then expected. All of my classmates loved their homestay families and the students at the collegio had a fantastic time living with Italian students. |
| * Food: |
Everything in Milan is delicious! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living in an apartment as a student with limited prior knowledge of Italian, it was difficult to get integrated with the local culture. I didn't leave with any lasting friendships with Italian students which is my one regret. Taking all of your classes at the IES center and living in apartments can isolate you in an American bubble within Italy. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never had any health issues addressed. |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
IES was wonderful with diet restrictions (I have life threatening allergies to treenuts), especially in a city that has nuts in everything. They also had a wide course offering and helped students find classes at partner institutions if they didn't offer a course necessary for graduation. |
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) |
I had no issue, food is cheaper in Italy then it is in my area in America. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Roughly 35 euros for a Monday-Thursday/Friday week. On weekends I traveled and ate out more. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you plan your travel around locations with cheaper flights or check transportation websites (Trenitalia, etc.) for discounts you can save a lot of money with only a little bit of planning. |
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? | None |
| 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? | none |
| 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? | Sign up for the language partner program. You only have to meet as much as you wish, but it helps to practice slang terms and other phrases you wouldn't necessarily learn in class but everyone uses. |
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? | I wish I knew that Milan is not the easiest city to move to if you don't know the language. I feel like I missed out on some of the experience since I had many difficulties interacting with people on the street and in stores. However, I learned Italian at an accelerated pace that I wouldn't have been able to manage if I wasn't constantly surrounded by it. |
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. |
