Wonderful Location, Decent Academics, Disappointing Directorship August 26, 2025
By A student (Sarah Lawrence College) - abroad from 02/01/2025 to 06/01/2025 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Florence
Yes, it was worthwhile
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Mildly to moderately rigorous coursework, good professors, slightly disorganized |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very poor directorship (toxic, dysfunctional), moderate level of organization, good supporting administrative staff |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Wonderful host |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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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? |
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) |
Affordable food and rent, walkable location |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~70 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 |
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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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None in this language |
| 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?
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? | Language pledge is not as serious as it is marketed to be |
