Rome is Amazing Past Review
By Krista H (MBA Marketing, Bentley University) - abroad from 01/07/2013 to 05/04/2013 with
John Cabot University - Study Abroad in Rome, Italy
Being abroad is amazing even though John Cabot really needs to get their act together. I still enjoyed the Roman life and living in Trastevere. John Cabot just needs to get better professors and be more lenient on their attendance policy if they are going to cater to abroad students.
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. |
School work wasn't that hard as Bentley's but for a study abroad program a lot of time and effort needed to be put in. Also teacher's were really unorganized. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They helped if you needed it but weren't very organized. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in the campus apartment. I'm upset that i did this and wish someone had told me not to because the housing was very strict and it wasn't what i expected a 'roman housing' situation to be. |
| * Food: |
The food was pretty good, good salad bar. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I liked being in Trastevere because it's very much part of the old culture. I just wish JCU didn't have such a rigorous attendance policy so that i could have actually experienced it more during the week. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
doctor on campus once a week but you end up waiting in wicked long lines. had to pay 20 euro just to use the gym, seems like a rip off to me. he literally jus felt our lungs and called it good. |
| * Safety: |
guards at the doors |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
|
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) |
It was pretty easy. it'd be alot easier if you never ever ate out, but that's the best part of trastevere! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | about 120 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | buy snacks, and plan when you want to eat 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 |
i had to take italian, but jcu does not require you to use it |
| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | italian 101 |
| 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? | when out in public try your hardest to speak it. alot of people will ask you to speak english but if you just tell them you're trying to learn they will listen and correct you. |
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? | I wish i would have known the attendance policy and that i was going to have to do a lot of work. I expected to not be as stressed so that i could see Rome everyday, but instead i found myself in the library, something a lot of other study abroad students don't have to do. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
