Studying abroad in Florence was definitely worth it, but I was happy to return home Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was completely manageable and the professors were entirely understanding and willing to work with you to make your semester run smoothly. The professors and staff were some of the nicest, most caring individuals I have encountered in my college experience, both abroad and at my home University.

On-site administration of your program

The Office of Student Life was only moderately helpful. When we went to them to try to find information for an upcoming trip (hotel recommendation, etc) we never found anything. It was always easier/more useful to look things up online. They tried providing us with information about travel (trains, planes, etc) which was pretty helpful, but when it came down to it, you only learned from experience.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We had a great apartment in a superb location (Via Cavour, 3 minutes from the Duomo and 30 seconds from the main bus stops), but there were 12 of us crammed into a tiny apartment. We only had 2 people to a bathroom which was nice, but the kitchen was SO SMALL and there were 12 of us, which made cooking very difficult. There was no large common space for us to sit in and study. Otherwise, I felt very safe. We had most kitchen appliances provided for us, but we ended up having to buy a few things. THe program provided us with new knives and pans when we complained about the quality of ours. We were provided with bed linens (which were changed by a service once a week) and towels.

The food on campus was delicious, but very heavy. I mostly wanted a simple salad or some grilled chicken so I often cooked for myself at home.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Florence had many special cultural events all over the city at different points during the semester. THe best event by far was Notte Biana (white night). On this night, every store stays open very late into the evening and there are all kinds of food vendors and street performances. It was definitely an experience to be had. NYU also planned many field trips for each class which was very nice. I went all over Italy for my classes--some overnight trips, some day trips.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Florence is a very safe city. I never felt threatened. The men are very forward, so I knew we had to travel in groups. I was alone once and got heckled by a strange man but I never felt like my safety was jeopardized. I never got sick so healthcare wasn't something I dealt with while I was away.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I mostly spoke in English, but when I was out in Florence (grocery shopping or whatever) I used my Italian and it helped to be able to understand signs, etc.

Select all that apply

• Apartment

Select all that apply

• Americans

Select all that apply

• Americans