Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

AMAZING! Past Review

By (Business Marketing, University of Northern Iowa) - abroad from 05/13/2014 to 06/03/2014 with

University of Northern Iowa: Capstone in Southern Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so many new things while on this trip. We had a lot of experiences that we could never have at home, like hiking an active volcano and watching it erupt while standing at the top. The time abroad was completely beyond worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I learned a lot from this trip that I could of never learned through hands-on experiences in Iowa.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Our professor was very nice and we learned a lot from him.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Overall the housing was good. Trapani and Lipari had amazing housing!

* Food:

The food was amazing! I tried new things such as octopus, and you cannot beat being able to eat gelato every day.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt very safe with our group even walking around at night. You just have to make sure to be aware of who is around you and not walk around by yourself.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

I really did not spend too much every week until we got back to Rome the second time and I bought souvenirs to take back home.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • N/A
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • All of the experiences
  • It was very active
  • The people we were with and we met
* What could be improved?
  • Housing in Rome
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have spent a little more time learning basic Italian words before going just so it would be easier to understand people.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Avid Adventurer
The 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.