Fun experience and new challenge Past Review
By Richard V (Information Technology Management, Kaplan University) - abroad from 08/31/2015 to 12/20/2015 with
Kaplan University
Learning more of Italian language, culture, customs, and way of life. It was interesting to see a lot and being able to experience more.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Educational experience was okay but needs more improving for a better learning experience in being in another country. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were good on helping with anything they could with the transition. Also letting us know about upcoming events, and any changes for class as we getting here. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I like the host family I had and with great food, nice home to live in, and friendly people. The only drawback was the distance from the school to the home was quite far. I got used to walking it after the first week. |
| * Food: |
Food was good and tasty with many different types presented to me from my hosted family from pizza to pasta to different deserts to different drinks as well. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Local culture I was alright with and mingled well with them and even though my Italian was very bad but most people understood me as I asked for help as well. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not use it so I do not know what quality is for me. I knew was there if I did need it. |
| * Safety: |
I had to problem with safety just have to be on alert of your surroundings. Knowing that any can happen and just being smart as you walk around or travel anywhere. |
| 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) |
3 for me and watch what I spent stuff on and did not go overboard on a lot of it. Just buying things that I need from time to time and very simple to know what I need and when I needed it. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50-60 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Just make sure you spend wisely and ensuring you to keep enough money on had for any emergencies that may come up. If you can walk to your destinations with no troubles then due that and it will help save money. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
3 for me I did my best to embrace the language I could and my downfall on it was no one to practice the language with me and being a solo person with the family I stayed with. |
| 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? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | None |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | If you know you are going to another country for a study abroad program try to get yourself familiar with the language before leaving. That may give you a better understanding of the language and a little more prepared. |
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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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Knowing what classes would be best suited for my degree that I am going into more. Then I can get into them have been able to take an internship here as well for credits as well. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Volcanlogy |
| Course Department: | Science |
| Instructor: | Forte |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Understanding the class and everything being taught and felt like it was over my head in learning the information. Too detailed in learning about Volcanology and taking it too far. The course needs to be better taught and explaining the basics of volcanology and not the in depth of it. It felt like it was a lot information that was not very important for the class. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | I do not know because I have not gotten home to see what credits will be transferred. To other fellow students I would not take this class unless you have geology background or have a strong understanding of geology. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
History of Mafia |
| Course Department: | Social Science |
| Instructor: | Corbino |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Class seemed to be off topic too much and not really focused on what we should have been learning. Also, not know what to study for mid term and final exam as well. That makes a challenge with the information that we cover in class. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
