Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My Study Abroad Experience in Torino, Italy Past Review

By (Business Administration, University of the Pacific) - abroad from 08/27/2012 to 12/21/2012 with

USAC Italy: Torino - International Business, Politics, Architecture, and Italian Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Learned how to take a step back and actually enjoy life, rather than having a perpetual goal at all times. Also learned how to create lasting friendships and how to truly care for people that are in your life, even if they are just the people serving you cappucinos every day.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Very reasonable workload. The advisors and staff know that you are there to explore, so they don't overwork you while at the same time teaching you what you need to know.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff was very helpful in everything a student would need.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Loved my apartment, cheap rent, basic utilities.

* Food:

Never had better food in my entire life.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Torino is a great city in Italy to study in because it's not as commercialized as the bigger ones, i.e. Venice, Florence, Rome, etc. Living there, you have to acclimate yourself to the surroundings because almost no one speaks english. Yes, it's a bit difficult at first, but after a while, you feel part of the community as you start having ordinary conversations in Italian.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

No issues for me, but my roommates had no problem with the healthcare system there. Since it's universal, you don't need to worry about medical bills, insurance, etc.

* Safety:

It was either our group or where we were living (midtown), but we always seemed to find some trouble. We saw a guy running down the street with a gun on our first night there, some people fighting at the wine festival one town over, and a few other altercations also took place before us, but everyone else in the program swore that they never saw something like that happen. None of us were injured except for my roommate who was jumped for his money, and overall, I think safety shouldn't be a concern unless you're out alone past 2am, in which case you're just asking for it.

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)

You NEED money if you are going to travel around. I spent around $2,000-$3,000 a month ($500-$700/week). Also, if you want to save, leave your credit card at home.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use 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
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • People
  • Location
  • Food
* What could be improved?
  • More field trips
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Don't bring more than one suitcase; you won't need it.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.