Study Abroad, What They Dont Tell You; The Ups And Downs Past Review
By A student (Drexel University) for
Italy Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
It was all worthwhile, a learning experience. You gotta have a positive outlook and see it all in your own way.
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. |
The grading did not match up to how the professors explained and they did not grade fairly. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our Advisors there were nice, but sometimes they were uninformed and mine didnt even know my name after we had many interactions. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My roommates and i had to move apartments and the transition was not smooth and it was unorganized. We were very upset with the way it was handled. Our first landlord did not speak one word of English so we had no idea what he was saying or how to communicate with him. Our second landlord never answered our emails and didnt help when we needed something to be fixed in the apartment. |
| * Food: |
There should have been a cafeteria option. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The nightlife was fun but the Italian men made us girls very uncomfortable. We had to stick with Americans most of the time. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I was sick multiple times. The clinics office hours were minimal, inconvenient and far away. I had to take a cab to get there. The medicine did not help any of the times. There should be more American medicine available. There was a negative health issue where i had to move out of my apartment and the Italian exterminator that my host university used was incompetent at her job and lost numerous personal items that my roommates and i had brought. |
| 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? |
Most people spoke English and would speak English to us even if we tried to communicate with them in Italian. |
| 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? | If you have any doubts just go. Dont think twice, you will NEVER have this amazing opportunity again. |
