Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Great time in Italy even with little help from program January 31, 2023

By (Biochemistry/Italian, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/12/2022 to 12/16/2022 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Florence

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was absolutely worthwhile, you just have to be willing to make it good on your own.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

n/a no food offered.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The program did not integrate us into local culture, we had to do it on our own.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

There was no effort on behalf of the Director to help us adjust or make friends. No trips were offered, etc.

Finances

* 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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Italian 300
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • The location!
* What could be improved?
  • Orientation
  • Support from Director
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That it would be a lot of studying, not all fun.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Storia
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Italian
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Estetica
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Italian
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Stilistica
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Italian
Comments: Love this professor, material itself is not very exciting
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Sociologia dei Media
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: Italian
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: