La Dolce VIta. Past Review

By (College of Charleston) - abroad from 08/25/2014 to 12/12/2014 with

Sant'Anna Institute: Sorrento - Live, Learn and Immerse in Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Learned so much about other cultures, a new language, made incredible friends, 100% worthwhile.

Review Photos

Sant'Anna Institute: Sorrento - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo Sant'Anna Institute: Sorrento - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo Sant'Anna Institute: Sorrento - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo Sant'Anna Institute: Sorrento - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo

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 informative with an interesting range of classes

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

ITALIAN FOOD...need I say more?

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

By the end very integrated.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around a $100 to $250 depending on the week and when I was.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Go with a set amount and budget what you can spend each month. I just made sure I broke up the $ I had equally with my time.

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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Never taken Italian but had 4 years of Spanish
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? Make friends in the local culture. Don't just hang out with study abroad students.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Location
  • Size of Classes
  • FOOD
* What could be improved?
  • Organization of scheduling
  • consistency with set scheduling
  • Outreach programs to local culture
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? pack lighter. if you think you have too much you have wayyyyyyy to much. 

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.