The Best Study Abroad Program in Rome Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were good, especially the Art Conservation course with Professor Persegati. Most classes included walking yours of Rome which were very rewarding because we were able to visit places we were studying.

On-site administration of your program

They are very helpful and always willing to answer any questions. Livio and Francesco are extremely nice and friendly. Zsofi, the live-in administrator will drop whatever she is doing to help you and ill always follow through. She often went to the pharmacy to get people medicine if they needed it and always put the students before herself.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Half of the students live in a wing of the convent which serves as the campus. All students attend class at the convent, eat in the cafeteria, and the administration offices are located there. The other half of the students live in a nearby hotel which is only about a 5 minute walk from campus. Here people stayed in doubles and singles and we took up most of the rooms so it felt like a dorm for the most part. <br /><br /> The convent and the hotel are in a great location in Rome, only a 20 minute walk from the center of the city. The area is overall pretty safe and quiet compared to other areas of Rome. The hotel is better than the convent because the walls are not as thin and you don't get as many noise complaints as in the convent.

Breakfast at the convent is a joke, don't even bother. There was always plenty of food at lunch and I enjoyed the family style eating. Dinner is not provided which definitely factors into spending and costs but it is a good opportunity to go out into the city and eat at restaurants.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

In terms of the social scene you have to pick your friends. A lot of the kids in this program came from Trinity and though they were all nice they were not necessarily people I would normally hang out with. They joked that this program was referred to at Trinity as "Trinity Real World Roma" which it was at times, with a lot of bad mouthing and gossiping. You can choose to avoid this by not associating with that crowd. Everyone was nice and luckily I was able to meet a group of friends that had more similar interests as mine but the kids on the program from Trinity have a reputation of being very preppy and at times more interested in getting drunk than cultural enrichment. Not to say that I did not have a good time. Going to bars and clubs was a big part of the social scene as well as eating out with friends. I really enjoyed going out to the many bars near campus and in Trastevere, probably the best place to go for a good time.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

As in any big city don't go walking around at night by yourself, especially if you are a woman. Always be alert. Unfortunately, cat calling and unwanted attention from men is part of Italian culture. After a while it can get quite annoying especially because it is more about their need to be macho and manly rather than their appreciation for a nice looking girl. Just ignore it and avoid speaking to them. It is an annoying part of life in Rome and something that both Italian and foreign women deal with.

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

Fluency in Italian was not required at all but I think my undertanding and ability to comprehend Italian increased. The Italian class was not as challenging for me as I expected it would be. In this program your language will improve depending on how much you want it to. You have to be the one to make an effort to speak Italian in everyday situations and out in Rome.

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