Challenging yet rewarding Past Review

By (Business Administration, Presbyterian College) for

Umbra Institute: Perugia - Direct Enrollment in Semester, Summer or Academic Year Programs

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I am more passionate about travel now and it has mademe a stronger person

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

They focused more on having time to travel and experience Italy, but there were clases that challenged me as well.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

No support service My expectations were not met

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Limitations on types of food

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Field trips were good

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Doctor hardly spoke english, which made a language barrier

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 200 a week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? You will spend more money than you think. Save money for travel. There are unexpected travel feesAnd cell phone bills watch and be careful about that.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

In perugia most people did not speak English to me but spoke Italian to me every day. The institute encouraged Italian, but there was a point where they quite caring if you got behind. The clases did not improve my language skills. They need to focus on working on more conversation skills.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Small
  • my 4 hour history of food class was amazing
  • No class on friday
* What could be improved?
  • Administration
  • number of computers
  • Library
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Dont use cell phones or rental phones use an internet card and skype phone. An outgoing and easygoing person that liked to go out at night would benefit most.