The Most Memorable Experience of My Life Past Review
By Sara C (Business & Communications, Merrimack College) - abroad from 01/26/2015 to 05/12/2015 with
The American University of Rome: Rome - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Being Abroad in Rome I learned a lot about myself and others. I was able to adapt to a completely different culture, and experience the world with a whole new perspective. I have never lived in a city before so when I first arrived I was out of my comfort zone. However, now four months later I would consider Rome my "home away from home." Italy was nothing but great to me and made me a more independent person. Rome was truly the most unforgettable semester of my life.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The educational experience overall was very good. I enjoyed the small classes and was able to get to know my professors as well as the students in my classes. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The onsite administration was very helpful, I had very good experience with the IT department when my laptop was not working. They fixed the problem immediately. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The living assignments were good overall, however throughout the semester we did have some general maintenance problems. When we contacted maintenance about the problems they would typically come in 3 days. |
| * Food: |
The food in Italy is amazing, some restaurants you must try are Pianostrada, Caico e Pepe, Sofia, Giselda, Dar Poeta, and Brothers Deli (right near American University of Rome) If you are looking to branch away from Italian one night and want try La Cucaracha for delicious Mexican or TAKE sushi for Japanese! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I wish I was more integrated in the culture. During the week I felt as though I was either at AUR or at my apartment in between classes. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Overall Rome is a very safe city, just be very aware of pick-pocketing on crowding touristy areas, trams, trains and buses. Always keep your bag in front of you and be aware of surroundings. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | You should definitely save at least $5,000 dollars, trips can be expensive. Also if you want to go shopping i would save more money because clothing, boots, and bag expenses add up. Factor in traveling incidents (missed flight/train, or expensive taxi costs). During the week cooking at home save a lot of money as well. |
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 |
We were required to take Italian at the American University of Rome, this was helpful because we were able to grasp a general understanding of the culture and the language. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Introductory |
| 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? | Try to order items off menus, when people speak to you in the language to try to respond. They appreciate when you try! |
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? | How much there is to see in Rome. Rome is an amazing city filled with culture, it is almost impossible to see it all (even in four months). I would definitely plan out what you want to see and make time to explore the city. The public transportation is also very different, one day the bus can be "on time" while other days it can be 30 minutes late. Transportation is very laid back and unreliable, so you should always plan ahead if you want to arrive somewhere on time. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
MKT NPD 305 |
| Course Department: | Business |
| Instructor: | Professor Sonnabend |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This course was challenging, yet very manageable. The professor was very knowledgeable and well-prepared. He made textbook material relevant and easy to grasp. He constantly used real life example which made the class interesting. The environment was very laid back which was beneficial because everyone felt comfortable participating. We were assessed with homework assignments, exams, group projects, and individual presentations. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
