Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Harder than Expected Academically/Financially/Socially but Learned A Lot September 09, 2024

By (History of Art & Architecture, Italian, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/05/2024 to 06/14/2024 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Florence

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile; I learned how to navigate a brand new city.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 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?

Not super satisfied. My room was nice but far out of the city and I still haven't received my deposit back from the administration. (I keep trying to contact them)

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Going to the local Florence University helped a lot with this.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had to do anything healthcare related while abroad.

* Safety:

I always felt safe in Florence but pick pocketing was a big issue for other students/tourists.

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

I didn't feel like the program/administration was that well organized.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? probably around 125
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cooking at home is a lot cheaper than eating out.

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? 300s level Italian
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? It's ok to make mistakes; just do your best.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Taking a class at UNIFI
  • Our class field trips
  • Getting to know people from my home institution better
* What could be improved?
  • The housing
  • The grading system
  • I wish the orientation bonded the students more
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How rigorous the classes would be.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Cibo nel Arte
Course Department: Art History
Instructor: Silvia
Instruction Language: Italian
Comments: The professor was super knowledgeable and took us on many field trips around Florence, which was great. It was a difficult course, but the teacher was accommodating.
Credit Transfer Issues: No issues
Course Name/Rating:

Stilistica
Course Department: Stylistics/Grammar
Instructor: Costanza
Instruction Language: Italian
Comments: It was a confusing course and I feel like we barely got anything done over the course of the semester.
Credit Transfer Issues: No issues
Course Name/Rating:

Dante
Course Department: Literature/History
Instructor: Domenico
Instruction Language: Italian
Comments: This course was awesome. Super interesting and I loved the professor. Also, there were only 4 people in the class which made it extra special.
Credit Transfer Issues: No issues