Past Review
By A student (Loyola University Chicago) - abroad from 08/29/2012 to 12/14/2012 with
Loyola University Chicago: Rome - John Felice Rome Center
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academic experience was very rich and thorough, I had some of the best professors while I was in Rome who were both academically challenging and creative in their teaching methods. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration on site were always friendly, helpful, and there for students at a moment's notice. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived off campus at the Zone hotel about 15 minutes away. |
| * Food: |
There was a wide variety of food each day and the quality was good but sometimes it lacked in quantity. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Living off campus I feel I had a deeper cultural experience because I got to know the neighborhood well in a short amount of time and going downtown into the city was also a cultural immersion because I was able to get to know the locals, practice the language, and experience a different way of life overall. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was sick at the beginning of the semester so I went to the clinic off campus and a doctor saw me right away and was very accommodating to my health needs. I was able to receive my medicine right away from a pharmacy and didn't experience any issues. |
| * Safety: |
Overall, I felt safe, there were always police/security in the main locations/tourist attractions. Although, Rome is a city so each student must be aware of their surroundings and belongings because they are in a foreign place and locals can recognize that instantly and take advantage if they choose. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
I saved a lot of money up over the summer before going abroad, and I felt I had enough money to live comfortably. My spending varied by week because it depended on how often I went out to spend money on food and other expenses. I probably spent the most money booking plans for traveling to other countries. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 20 euro a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't necessarily try to budget your money week by week because some weeks you might spend almost nothing and then later on find you need to spend a lot more when you're booking flights/places to stay and actually traveling,spending money on food and other items. In the end it all balances out so don't feel overwhelmed if you are on a budget and are concerned that for a weekend or particular trip you are spending too much because there might be weeks when you stay in your host city and spend considerably less to nothing. Although, make sure over time that there is a balance between spending and saving, so you don't run out of money but can also enjoy yourself when the time comes. |
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 |
I took a language course as a requirement for my major, and my professor often encouraged us to go out and use the language with locals however it is up to the student when they are out exploring if they are actually going to immerse themselves in that way or not. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | Italian 101 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Don't be afraid to speak the language, practice often with your friends and professors so you are less shy when speaking with locals. Most locals are friendly and are willing to help, they can tell you are foreign and are not necessarily fluent in their language so they can be patient with you. |
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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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 the program is not located in the city center but rather is north of Rome in a small suburb. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
