Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Challenge to what it means to be italian and what it means to make art Past Review

By (Psychology and Women's Studies, Clark University - Worcester) - abroad from 01/22/2014 to 05/18/2014 with

Siena Art Institute: Siena - Undergraduate Study Abroad Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My experience taught me to think about art making in an entirely new way. Though I wish I had spent my time making different pieces, I feel the knowledge I gained about contemporary art was entirely worthwhile. My italian improved. Ultimately, I received what I had wanted to from the program: art and italian. I would only wish to have more italian exposure though I understand that the program was for american students and I should have found a program that required prior knowledge of the language or required classes to be taught in the language.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* 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? 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)

with the support of my parents: 5! On a student budget alone though would have been impossible.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 50 euro extra?
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't have FOMO(fear of missing out), it's okay not to go out every night. Going out is expensive and keeping the number of times you go out will help keep your spending money down

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? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Italian 202?
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Go for full emersion, even while abroad try to read and watch movies/tv in the language. You will miss your native language but while there it is the best opportunity to take to make everything possible centered around the language and culture.

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

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Learning about contemporary art making
  • Having independence and freedom to make the art I want to make
  • Italian language!
* What could be improved?
  • More italian
  • More skill-based/technique art classes
  • WIFI in the home stays should be required.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Going abroad- no matter where- is hard! I also wish I knew I wouldn't have access to WIFI at home. No WIFI means you feel even more distant from life at home and even more excluded than you already would have felt.

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 Linguist
You 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!