The St. John's Global Studies Staff Honestly Care About the Student Experience Past Review
By Joe C (English, St. John's University) for
St. John's University: Rome - Discover Italy
My language and cultural competency skills improved, but the greatest impact the program had on me was the perspective it gave me, particularly through the service components. The program totally reflects the St. John's Vincentian mission.
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. |
There's no drop-off, academically. All classes are taught by St. John's professors, so it was like I never left the Queens campus. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Rome staff is amazing - always friendly and always helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I studied in Rome before St. John's offered on-campus housing, so it was in an off-campus apartment complex. The accommodations and food were top notch, though. |
| * Food: |
The meal tickets were awesome - great selection of food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The trips were fun, and took me to places I probably wouldn't have gone on my own. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I never felt any less safe or comfortable than I do at home. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
My Italian professor was great, and you can't beat immersion for practical language learning. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live 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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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | You can tell that every part of this program was well-thought out and meticulously planned. And when things did go unexpectedly, the staff was always quick to do everything possible to make sure everything worked out. The location, accommodations and experiences in this program can't be beat, but I really believe that it's the dedication and care put in by the staff (both in Rome and New York) that sets this program apart. |
