Rome was great, IES was sub-par Past Review
By Benjamin M (Politics, Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/01/2016 to 05/18/2016 with
IES Abroad: Study Rome - Language & Area Studies
Language, open-mindedness, saw Europe. Yes
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Very easy. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Going with IES had its benefits, in that it was an international organization that had a foundation and superstructure to it. However, despite this, most students agreed that our program specifically was fairly disorganized (in terms of the staff especially). Students who had spent other semesters abroad felt that it was especially disorganized. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
In terms of how much we spent, for Rome, we get screwed over. On the one hand, it was walking distance from classes in an up-scale neighborhood, and near a metro station, which was important. However, we didn't live near young people and accommodations were somewhat tight. |
| * Food: |
I never hate program provided by the food, but in terms of options available in Rome, there's a lot available (even for a kosher student, like myself). |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program did little to help this; I was able to integrate with the religious Jewish community here, but that was no thanks to the program itself. Without this factor, my integration score would be much lower. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Not enough bad things to say in general. I'm glad I only needed to go to the doctor for a minor thing here, because I would feel uncomfortable going for anything more serious. Wait times are incredible, service slow, quality of care low, and pharmacy hours are limited. I'm not sure if it's just the doctor that IES has a relationship with, or if it's just Italy. |
| * Safety: |
No problems. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Part of the reason I'd do it again is because of the lack of options. Brandeis only has 2 program options for Rome. I wanted to be in Rome, and while IES isn't good, the other option looked worse. If they had a program with la sapienza perhaps that would be more rigorous. |
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) |
|
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 |
Most students came in with no background. |
| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Italian 20. |
| 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? | Get out of your apartment and your programs bubble to interact with locals. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Some of the differences specific to Italy - I didn't talk to anyone who had been abroad in Italy prior to my departure. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
