Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Vale la pena Past Review

By (Italian Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/28/2015 to 05/15/2015 with

Eastern College Consortium (ECCO): Bologna - Università di Bologna Study Abroad Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Worthwhile for sure. I learned how to cook, how to roll a joint, how to chill out, and how to travel. What more could you ask for?

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

ECCo office and staff were more than available, cared deeply about us and helped ease the transition into international life.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Five stars, enough said. (not even to mention the wine...) Learning to cook and how to respect food was one of the best experiences and most important things I will probably ever learn.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Face it, making friends with locals is hard while studying somewhere unfamiliar. But the ECCo program was definitely the most intensive ad encouraged a level of independence that forced us to make the effort, which was worth it.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Wouldn't recommend the program-affiliated counselor.

* Safety:

I never had any problems, cat calling at the most.

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)

Food is cheap and good, you get stipend. However, remember that you are still paying your full tuition.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $60
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? cook for yourself. just do it.

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? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Small size, integrated student living, travel opportunities
* What could be improved?
  • They could do a better job asking students personal questions (the office is pretty academically focused)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known a bit more about Italian politics, honestly. It's pretty confusing, and Bologna is a VERY political place, where you either know what you're talking about, or you get lectured to by everyone and their Communist uncle.

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.