Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

OK program, but still a worthwhile experience! Rome is unbelievable! Past Review

By (Elementary Education, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 05/29/2013 to 07/29/2013 with

IES Abroad: Study Rome - Language & Area Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained tremendous insight from immersing myself in a new culture, traveling through Europe with new friends, and living and learning a new language and history. Throwing myself into a new situation with new people was eye opening and a truly unforgettable experience. I learned the importance of independence and planning, and I gained a greater understanding of the way others live. Europe is an unbelievable place filled with so much rich history and culture, I hope to return soon!

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 course work was very valuable to my experience abroad. The practical Italian instruction and the extensive art historical background proved very helpful!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Although classes were very interesting, the administration at IES was disappointing. The front desk staff was very unhelpful and unfriendly. They were reluctant to answer questions and rarely gave recommendations or advice. The printer repeatedly malfunctioned and no one was available to fix it, so our school work suffered.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in an apartment with 4 other girls and thoroughly enjoyed the authentic experience. While I wish that more of the students in our program lived closer to us, overall my living experience was excellent.

* Food:

no food was offered as a part of the program

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We were fully immersed in the Italian culture as we ate at restaurants, walked to class across the Tiber, and made Italian friends every day!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

n/a

* Safety:

I never felt unsafe while I was abroad. While I was always hyper aware of pick pockets, I never felt like I was in danger.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

I managed my money well.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $175
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Spend wisely, utilize IES discounts, do research before you leave -- ex: how much is a bottle of water supposed to cost? how much is the euro relative to the US dollar?

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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 location
  • The freedom to travel
  • The courses
* What could be improved?
  • Administration/Front Desk Staff
  • Technology: wifi and printer often malfunctioned
  • Student support learning to navigate the city
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known to do more research on the city before I arrived. I wish I had looked at a map of the city and tried to acclimate myself to my surroundings. I wish I had made a bucket list of Historical landmarks to visit and compiled some background information on them so that I would know what I was looking at when I saw it. While I managed to see everything I wanted, it would have been easier had I done my research beforehand.

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 Urbanite
A 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.