Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Definitely go to birrificio cortonese and carry cat treats February 02, 2022

By (Illustration, University of Hartford) - abroad from 08/26/2022 to 11/20/2021 with

University of Georgia: Studies Abroad Program in Cortona, Italy

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Definitely worthwhile. I learned that I am more responsible and able to travel on my own than I thought.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

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:

The vegetarian options were pretty iffy at times. The rest was very good.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The town is extremely friendly and I felt very welcome. The owners of meal voucher restaurants were my favorite people to speak with, they were friendly and very used to exchange students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt very safe in Cortona.

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

It was difficult at time but I had some life changing positive experiences.

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? $150-200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don’t eat out too much- the groceries in Cortona are affordable and good quality. Box pasta is crazy cheap, and if you have box pasta, olive oil, and a few different veggies to add in you’re pretty much set.

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? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? I took one Italian class a few years ago.
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? Definitely learn the basics, and make an effort to pronounce properly. Even if it’s just to order food, or say hello or ask how much something costs, they appreciate if you’ve clearly practiced pronunciation.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* 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?
  • Venice
  • Birrificio Cortonese
  • Cortona’s cats
* What could be improved?
  • Art history
  • Work/life balance
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I’d saved up a little more, there’s a ton of cool stuff to do but cool stuff costs money. I was able to do everything I wanted to do for the most part, but I was a bit broke afterwards.

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:

Ideation and Methodologies

Course Department:
Instructor: Mark Taggart
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Mark had to step in last minute but I found him to be a fantastic instructor. He had a fun and modern approach to our projects, and was very encouraging of each student’s individual goals and work style.
Credit Transfer Issues: