Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Sometimes the best adventures are the ones least planned Past Review

By (Stonehill College) - abroad from 01/23/2018 to 05/10/2018 with

Academic Studies Abroad: Study Abroad in Florence, Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a lot of valuable skills from abroad: living independently, chasing new opportunities every day, and experiencing a different way of life truly allowed me to open up more. I really learned to take full advantage of each day by learning the language, meeting new people, and stumbling upon places I never knew existed. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world.

Review Photos

Academic Studies Abroad: Study Abroad in Florence, Italy Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

FUA (the university that ASA works with) offered intriguing courses. Most of my professors were very kind and interested in exchanging our different cultures.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The on-site administrator was absolutely fabulous! I couldn't have asked for a better person to welcome me to Florence. She was great resource during my stay from medical issues to recommending the best restaurants she was excellent!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My living arrangements were amazing. We were located in the city center and only about a 10 minute walk to the Duomo.

* Food:

If i could give this category 10 stars I would! You can't beat the amazing food in Italy.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

While being in the heart of Florence certainly integrates you, there were quite a number of American students in the city. This made me feel a bit less integrated, but there are certainly plenty of opportunities available to become fully integrated! Just as an example: FUA allowed me to connect with a local florentine family through the family club. This was an amazing experience!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

While of course always being vigilant, the city of Florence always felt very comfortable and safe to me.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I highly recommend setting up a daily/weekly budget before departing. This way it's easy to plan and know how much you can spend.

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? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Advanced Italian 1
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? Join the family club through FUA (ASA's university partner) and seek out multilingual groups! There are certainly plenty of Italians who are interested in learning English so a language exchange would be a great way to practice the language and make some new friends.

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
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?
  • I really enjoyed the on site program leaders
  • I can't reiterate enough how much I enjoyed the family club
* What could be improved?
  • More interaction with local italians-perhaps a cultural exchange between Italians of the same age as the american students.It would be a great way to learn meet and learn more about the culture.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I do wish I had known that there was limited opportunity to meet other Italian students my own age though the program, as I would have really enjoyed this to improve upon the Italian language. However, overall I thought the program was great and very supportive of the transition to studying and living in Italy.

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 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.