Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My Milan Past Review

By (University of Mary Washington) - abroad from 02/13/2017 to 05/26/2017 with

SAI Study Abroad: Milan - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC)

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a lot of cross-cultural communication skills. My classes were a mix of American students and other international students and we did a lot of group work. Learning how other countries teach their students to approach work and group dynamics was very interesting.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Absolutely wonderful SAI program coordinator. Made everything about my time abroad much easier!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

n/a because I didn't have any type of meal plan

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had gotten an ear infection at one point and my program coordinator was super helpful.

* Safety:

I felt very safe walking around by myself whenever I needed to

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I would absolutely choose the same program, both SAI and Milan were the perfect fit for me. I cannot imagine having gone abroad without the help, guidance, and support of SAI.

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)

It was pretty easy to live on a budget, it was the first time that I had been off of a meal plan so my expenses looked a bit different than they normally do while I am at school but if you cook it is very affordable.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 40-50 euro depending on the week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Budget your money well and keep track of it

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

I felt pretty encouraged to use the language, I was also in an upper level of my language compared to a lot of other students who came in with no language skills.

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? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Italian 201 (three semesters worth)
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? Duolingo is super helpful with small things and with learning to translate easy signs and sentences

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • convenience
  • support
  • cultural activities
* What could be improved?
  • I wish the program in Milan was a little bigger, there was only about 9 students when I was there, and only 4 at my University. It isn't necessarily a negative, but a friend of mine did a larger SAI program and his experience was very different.
  • Nothing else, SAI is wonderful!!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? They offer a 3 week language intensive program and I didn't realize how many people partake in the opportunity and I wish that I had!

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.