The Best Summer Ever Past Review

By (EDUCATION., The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 05/29/2013 to 07/12/2013 with

IES Abroad: Study Rome - Language & Area Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned about other cultures and how to interact with people different than me. It was also a growing experience being on my own and managing a budget for food and travels.

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.

I loved this program. But the people in it were kind of hard to deal with at times. There were a lot of girls and we outnumbered the boys.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I loved all the teachers!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Our apartment was huge, but there were not cleaning supplies and it got dirty.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I had to use italian to get around almost everyday.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I always felt safe.

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)

I had to go on a budget about a week in. It was pretty difficult to not spend money.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Probably between 50 and 100 euro.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't eat every meal out!

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? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
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? Just get a book that has basic vocabulary and grammar and review it before you go.

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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The faculty
  • organization
* What could be improved?
  • very expensive
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how expensive actually being there would be, let alone the cost of the program.

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.