Not what I was expecting but overall a good experience. Past Review
By A student (International Business/Spanish, Loyola University Chicago) - abroad from 08/29/2012 to 12/14/2012 with
Loyola University Chicago: Rome - John Felice Rome Center
It was good but I got bored in Rome and wished that i had studied somewhere in Spain. I didn't really like the program but it wasn't terrible. I definitely didn't fall in love with it the way others did.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I didn't really enjoy my housing situation. Living with all American students I had no opportunity to immerse myself with Italians. The option for a homestay would have been a nice option. I also thought the building that the dorms was in was really old, not very easy to regulate temperature and dust was easier to come through the windows and such. |
| * Food: |
Too much of the same thing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I barely felt integrated with the local culture. I very rarely interacted with locals and if I did so it was completely on my own, nothing the school did. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
They told us a lot about the options and what to do if healthcare was needed but I never used it. I did however get more sick abroad than normal but never was able to visit the local doctor on campus because of class conflicts. |
| * Safety: |
I felt safe walking around. |
| 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) |
Everything was expensive so I did not go out and do very much of anything which was unfortunate. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 40 euros |
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 |
We were required to take the language as a class during our study abroad experience and we were encouraged to use it outside of class |
| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300 level courses in Spanish but I didn't study any Italian |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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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| 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? | the minimal amount of integration with local culture |
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! |
