Rome, beautiful location, not necessarily the best program. Past Review
By Alex . (International Relations/ Spanish, Rollins College) for
Trinity College Rome Campus: - Study Abroad in Italy
I had fun but was not challenged academically and could have done without a lot of the drama.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were really easy and didn't really require any form of effort. There was a lot of busy work in some cases which didn't really aid in the learning but was required in order to do well in class. It took away from experiencing the city and culture of where I was. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program is set up really unfairly. Some classes get fully paid trips to places while others get nothing. Sometimes it seems like the administration has no power or doesn't really care. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We are housed in a convent with all American students. Strict rules due to the religious implications of living in a convent and no Italian is spoken. |
| * Food: |
The convent food is pretty decent, large portions, and variety. Eating dinners on your own is fun, you get to try new places all the time. Negative is that there is no kitchen at your disposal. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Not too many events organized by the program. Any event organized required paying out of pocket. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt safe at all times. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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? | Between 10 and 30 euros a meal. Each week depended on where you went and what you ate but approximately 100euros a week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Meals. Was not aware that no meals on week and that no dinners would be covered. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had never taken italian. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I was able to practice my Italian with professors, workers in restaurants, and my internship. English is widely spoken however. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you want to engage in the culture and learn Italian, find a program where you live outside an American bubble and go to an actual univeristy. |
