Top decision of my life Past Review

By (West Virginia University) - abroad from 05/13/2013 to 06/28/2013 with

CIMBA: Paderno del Grappa - Undergraduate Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Studying abroad empowered me as a young woman in business and left an impact across many aspects of my life. My experience proved to me that I could go to an unfamiliar place by myself, feeling unprepared and unsure of what may lie ahead and come out of it having even more of a desire to explore new places and embrace the unknown. Challenging these fears has put me on the fast track to conquering my career goals and personal aspirations because I no longer hold myself back due to the “what if” dilemma.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

I would always choose CIMBA- and in fact, I did choose to return to the program for my MBA!

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)

If staying in the area, very little money was required. During the travel weekends, however, I splurged on international trips with friends.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I started making cold cut sandwhiches at breakfast and saving fruit to bring with me on bus rides to cut back on unnecessary costs.

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? Beginner

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Centrally located within Europe
  • Mix of Universities
  • Incredible professors
* What could be improved?
  • Longer summer session
  • More buses provided for travel weekends
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I realized how fast the time would go. If I knew how much I was going to enjoy living in Italy, I would have opted to do a full semester over a summer session.