77 reviews
3.97 / 5 based on 77 reviews
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1
Rachel H
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
none
Work opportunities:
It was not legal for me to work
Personal spending habits
I am American, so I was going from dollars to euro.
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Nightlife, Overall, Food, Housing, Travel, Telephone:
was more expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
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1
Rachel H
Academic
My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
The library was terrible, a joke really. Academics were not taken seriously, at least by the study abroad students and professors (AS I understand it there are different standards for study abroad vs. degree seeking students). That was all well and good, it left flexibility for travel and fun, but it really sunk below acceptable when I wasn't asked to submit a bibliography for a paper.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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26
Rachel H
Overall
I wish I had known...
Italian is really essential, no to John Cabot, but to a great study abroad experience. People I knew who didn't speak Italian were frequently frustrated by things that I greatly enjoyed, such as going grocery shopping. Italians are really friendly people (to overgeneralize) so I found that, even with minimal italian (only one semester prior to going) I was able to get by because they were patient and willing to help understand.
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In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
With minimal effort, you can achieve very good grades. Just don't forget (amidst all the travelling, fun, & new experiences) to put in that minimal effort.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
For me, study abroad was about the culture, much more than the academics. I enjoyed my courses, but I enjoyed Rome a million times more. If you're seeking a serious, academic experience, look elsewhere. If you are looking to take some interesting credits, not slow down your progression through college (by missing credits), and to live in the most amazing city in the world, then I would highly recommend JCU.
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1
Rachel H
Languages
Language of instruction: English
Local language was: Different than language of instruction
Was learning English a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
Was learning Italian a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my Italian
How much did you improve your Italian?
My level before: Basic phrases
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
You can attend John Cabot without needing a wird of Italian. I went out, spoke Italian, met Italians and made friends with them on my own prerogative to enhance the experience and feel like I was actually studying abroad, but you could definitely survive on english alone in the JCU bubble.
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15
Rachel H
Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House
Why?
From what I heard from students living in JCU housing, it was pretty far away from the university (~45 minutes) and was dorm-style living with no visitors permitted unless registered. When I studied abroad, I traveled, often visiting friends in other cities and they came to visit me in Rome. It would've been a pain and costly if they'd had to pay for a place to stay rather than just being able to stay with me. Furthermore, I actually befriended some of my neighbors in the apartment building, a really nice family, and they frequently invited me over. It turned out to be a really nice part of the abroad experience which I would've missed out on in campus housing.
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Personal comments
I loved my little apartment. It wasn't the warmest, it wasn't the largest, the shower sucked, but those are just things you adjust to and get over. I loved going grocery shopping and cooking dinner, having a place that felt home-y. I am a pretty go-with-the-flow kind of person though. My 3 roomates, who were all more high maitenence than I am, were constantly complaining.
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0
Rachel H
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Nightlife, Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Activities: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
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