Home Sweet Rome Past Review
By A student (St. Norbert College) - abroad from 01/09/2017 to 05/06/2017 with
John Cabot University - Study Abroad in Rome, Italy
I learned more than I ever would by just staying in Wisconsin. I learned more about myself, how independent I am and how strong I am also. I couldn't put a task off or ask someone else to figure something out for me, I had to do it myself. I was challenged on a daily basis with language and my communicative skills increased dramatically. Being abroad puts your entire life in perspective and you really appreciate what the world has to offer and how different every culture is from one another.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes offered were very good and all transferred back to my home university with no problem. All classes helped with my major, minor, or CORE curriculum. Some of the classes were a lot easier than what I was used to, some had way too much work for a class. It was nice to have tests and such throughout the semester, but professors expected too much from students when the last week of class was connected with finals week. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
SAI was always very helpful! the SAI office became a place I could go to and feel more comfortable. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I enjoyed being in an off-campus apartment and was able to live like an Italian. I did have roommate issues with two of my roommates and I didn't enjoy my location as much. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like Italy tries to maintain their culture the most out of all countries I have traveled too, while integrating American culture to live fine in. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Living in Rome was a challenge. The people, the culture, and everything else is very difficult. SAI provided a place and helped my experience so much better than I could have imagined. |
Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $7,000 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make a budget! Try to cook your own meals during the week, with the exception of going out every now and then, in order to save up money for the weekends! Take the cheaper flight, even if they don't offer a snack- you can always bring your own. It is okay to say no to a weekend trip! Take that weekend to travel around your home city for a weekend. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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 |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | certificate in a different language |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It is okay to take a day, a weekend, or any period of time to just hang low and not travel/explore. Study abroad is exhausting and we need to treat our body with the correct respect. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
