ISA Florence is the worst program. Past Review
By Sarah P (Human Biology, Stanford University) for
ISA Study Abroad in Florence, Italy
no. I didn't learn about new cultures living with Americans and the Italians all treated us like pieces of meat or ignorant foreigners which most of the group was. I enjoyed traveling on my own outside of Florence and meeting up with people from my home institution in other programs but wish I would have chosen a different program. The only good thing that came out of ISA Florence was my realization that I love America and intelligent people.
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. |
No work which was kind of nice being abroad, however, I feel as if I got dumber being at this school and around the people chosen for the program. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The leaders were accessible, however, kind of strict for how independent 20-somethings should be allowed to be. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in the kitchen with absolutely no privacy at all. The apartments all had mold by the end of the program which gave us allergies and some girls had eye problems as well. |
| * Food: |
N/A we had to cook and buy our own food. Italian cuisine is one of the most amazing cuisines there is however. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I liked being able to travel to cities close |
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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
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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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Took beginning Italian. It moved deathly slow and I learned nothing. Everyone spoke English to us and we never got the chance to practice the beautiful language. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Go ISA Barcelona which I've heard is good. Don't use ISA Florence if you have interests other than fashion and food or go to a decent school where you enjoy interacting with intelligent people. |
