Amazing Past Review
By A student (communications, Illinois State University) - abroad from 01/29/2013 to 05/18/2013 with
Lorenzo de' Medici – Florence
It was worth it but it wasn't what I was imagining and it could be better.
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 school facilities closed almost too early to get stuff done (printing and the library). |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were very helpful at LDM |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Illinois State put all Illinois State students together which made it hard to meet new people. Also I was put into a room with someone who was the complete opposite of me which made it hard to get along with. They obviously did not pay attention to the rooming surveys. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Florence is a very small and mostly tourist based town I felt like I didn't learn or experience as much as I thought I would or could. |
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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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 4,000 in total for the whole time |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Bring more than they tell you too. Try not to go out all the time to bars or dinner. |
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? | Beginner |
| 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? | Try to use it wherever you are |
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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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | that I would have needed to bring more clothes than I was told to bring. |
