Trinity College, Rome: Good, not Perfect, Program Past Review
By Rachel P (History, Trinity University) for
Trinity College Rome Campus: - Study Abroad in Italy
I would definitely go abroad again, but I wish that I had come into Trinity College, Rome, more aware of its shortcomings. I was disappointed by the level of support and the caliber of student.
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. |
The workload was less than at my home institution, but I also felt that the quality of instruction, as a whole, suffered. I do not think the system differs much, if at all, from an American-style grading rubric. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program was smaller than I expected, and I found the administration difficult to talk to. However, other people found them accessible, so it might have been me. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The neighborhood where I lived, the Aventine hill, was very quiet and safe. I never felt as if I was in danger, even when walking alone. However, I was disappointed in the housing. Living in the hotel as opposed to the convent, where meals were served and where most classes took place, made me feel isolated, and contributed to feeling homesick. There is a communal refrigerator, but during my stay we had problems with theft by other students. The hotel does not have a microwave or a kitchen for people that want to cook their own meals. |
| * Food: |
The food in general was delicious, but the dining accommodations were not vegetarian friendly. Often the pasta had meat in it, which I found frustrating. Eat at Le Fate as often as you can, as well as Nonna Betta's in the Jewish quarter. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The trip we made for Ancient Art of Rome with Dr. Gadeyne was amazing. I would highly, highly suggest it to any student attending the program. We went to Pompeii, Paestum, Naples, and Sperlonga. It was one of my favorite experiences abroad. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Rome is a safe city as long as you are street smart. Don't go out drinking alone, and don't get inebriated to the point where someone can take advantage of you. Pickpocketing is a big problem, so be aware of your belongings at all time. Don't bring a designer bag, or flashy jewelry. It makes you a target. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I suppose the best thing to say is this: it will always cost more than you think. I tried to live cheaply, and I still ended up spending about 4500 dollars in my time abroad. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
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| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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 did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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