Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Everything I dreamed of Past Review

By (University of California - Riverside) - abroad from 07/02/2017 to 08/05/2017 with

Sant'Anna Institute: Sorrento - Live, Learn and Immerse in Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I acquired a greater understanding of Italian culture and society and the experience opened my eyes to the diversity and beauty of the rest of the world.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I learned about Italian culture through lectures fromItalian professors who were very professional and knowledgeable.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff is very helpful and sweet, completely kind and agreeable.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed in a very comfortable and centrally located apartment with some other girls in the program.

* Food:

Italian food is worthy of every praise.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The locals were very welcoming and kind.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt safe walking through the streets late at night, I had no safety issues.

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

I absolutely loved my time abroad in Sorrento, Italy. Sorrento is romantic, safe, and very picturesque. The classes at the Sant'Anna Institute are interesting (and include field trips) and the school is warm and inviting. Being able to travel on the weekends was great and made my experience in Italy a dream come true.

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)

Eating out is a bit expensive but there are grocery stores where one can budget.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? less than $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan trips ahead of time to save money on transportation and hotel fees.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

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
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?
  • the interesting classes
  • the beautiful location
  • the friendly staff
* What could be improved?
  • more students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? More effective ways to budget

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.