Unsatisfactory Past Review
By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/02/2019 to 01/31/2020 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Florence
I learned more about myself which was worthwhile, but unfortunately I studied abroad in high-school which already acclimated myself to this modus operandi.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I would argue that the classes simply are not taxing or hard. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in my own housing, as such this may be the only 5 star review afforded the program. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Sometimes I would be sick enough in which I would not be able to attend my classes and as such I was sick enough to not be able to travel to the doctors office for a note which was required for a legitimate absence. Unlike Midd where Parton is right there the nearest hospital would have required me to travel two hours there and back...how is that equitable for students struggling with their health? |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I truly believe that academically this was a colossal waste of time. |
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) |
Impossible. Not sure how or why food costs such astronomical prices. Food in Florence is better than Midd but is incredibly expensive...Middlebury food is not great and really expensive...just really frustrating. |
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? | Advanced |
| 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? | ITAL 202 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | That it would be incredibly unfulfilling intellectually and academically. If I was aware of such I would have either chosen a different program or stayed at Midd. |
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! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Modern Italian Literature |
| Course Department: | Italian |
| Instructor: | Igiaba Scego |
| Instruction Language: | Italian |
| Comments: | Not hard at all, teacher was rather disorganized, made learning a bit difficult. I participated more. All of our assessments where from exams and papers |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no |
