Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Becoming a New and Improved Version of Myself Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/05/2018 to 06/30/2018 with

Universita degli Studi di Firenze: Florence - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I became more independent. My self-confidence grew. I feel stronger.

Review Photos

Universita degli Studi di Firenze: Florence - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

i felt so fulfilled both academically. It was not extremely difficult but it was challenging enough to the point where I needed to put in hard work but was not extremely stressed.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The ladies working at the Sede were amazing. They became some of the most important people throughout my abroad experience. So supportive.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My housing was wonderful. Francesca, my host mom, was a blessing to my roommate and I. She was like another mother. my family came to visit me and my mom met her and completely felt her positive energy and kind soul.

* Food:

It is Italy. So good. Everything was so good.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Living with a host family definitely facilitated this process.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any health issues (fortunately) but when I had minor health problems, the administration was very helpful in letting me know my options.

* Safety:

i always felt safe. Obviously we were warned of pick-pocketers, but that is part of the norm. overall I felt very safe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Florence is beautiful. My host family was absolutely amazing and will forever be in my heart. Italy will remain forever in my heart.

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)

it was definitely challenging. The dollar to euro rate is pretty bad. Florence is such a touristy city too, so it was difficult. However, it was doable.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? maybe 20-30 euros on average because I ate dinner at home with my host family.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Home-stay is often a good financial choice.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
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? a 300 level
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? Taking a university course will help more than you can imagine. Going to school with actual Italian students with an italian professor can be very overwhelming but it is so helpful.

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

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

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

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • My host family
  • The people
  • The architecture
* What could be improved?
  • The organization of orientation week
  • More grammar practice
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Getting an internship was going to be one of the most stressful things.

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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Fondamenti D'Urbanistica
Course Department: HARC
Instructor: Massimo Carta
Instruction Language: italian
Comments: This course was challenging. it required a lot of hours of work. However, through this course i met people from all around the world. My group members (for the final project) was made up of a girl from Brazil, a girl from Spain, and a girl from Mexico. We all spoke Italian and all were architecture majors. The content of the course was fulfilling and the professor was understanding and kind.
Credit Transfer Issues: I believe the credits are easily transferred however, it should count as a supplement for Modern architecture and I have not yet done that, therefore i can not fully answer this yet.