Great Experience Past Review
By Kayla (Colby College) - abroad from 09/10/2018 to 12/19/2018 with
Syracuse University: Florence - Syracuse University in Florence
Very worthwhile!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Class load was super manageable |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
AWesome trips planned and all staff were willing to help |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Loved my host family! |
| * Food: |
Her cooking was excellent |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt integrated because I had experience with the Italian culture and have been studying it for 8+ years |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any encounters with healthcare |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe, but knew I needed to be aware of my surroundings |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I thoroughly enjoyed my program but I wish I selected the option to take some of my classes at the University of Florence in Italian because I felt my Italian wasn't being challenged enough |
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) |
3.5-- I had a pretty limited budget and I was able to manage it pretty well and still did a decent amount of traveling. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $75 a week maybe |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take the train! Don't fly everywhere |
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 |
There was like suggestions to use it, but most of my language usage was from personal motivation |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | Italian 4 |
| 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? | Talk to your host parents in Italian only |
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?
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| 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? |
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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? | take the time to explore Florence |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
