63 reviews
4.38 / 5 based on 63 reviews
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Academic
Course recommendations
My program was set, so I didn't have any choices.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
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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Languages
Language of instruction: Italian
Was learning Italian a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my Italian
How much did you improve your Italian?
My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
It was difficult at first because my professor only spoke to my class in Italian. As the course progressed, the fact that she only spoke to us in Italian was a blessing. After only 2 months in Italy, I was able to understand the language with relative ease and my speaking skills improved a lot. (I did have one year of Italian prior to studying abroad though).
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Overall
I wish I had known...
Pack light. People told me to pack light prior to going and I thought I did, but I ended up buying a lot of things in Europe and had to ship my other stuff back home.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
the professors are really nice and the classes are interesting.
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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
pack light. make friends with locals. keep an open mind.
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Expenses
Main source of funding:
Family
Other sources of funding:
none
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
It really depends on what you spend your money on - what you choose to buy. The Euro is stronger than the dollar, so goods can be more expensive. The only thing that you may spend more money on is a cellphone/telephone calls if you're making overseas phone calls. Local calls are very reasonable.
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Telephone:
was more expensive than at home.
Food, Overall, Housing:
was the same price as at home.
Nightlife, Travel:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
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Housing
Type of housing: Apartment/House
Arranged by: Home university
If returning, I would choose: With a family
Why?
I loved my apartment and the students I lived with, but I didn't really make any lasting relationships with any Italians. Living with a family would have helped accelerate my learning of the Italian language and expose me to how Italians really live. I spoke with other students on my program recently and they still keep in touch with their host families - which I think is really cool.
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Personal comments
The housing was provided by my home university. The apartments were very clean, spacious, and close to campus and the center of town.
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Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Nightlife, Activities: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
The best views of Siena are on top of the Museo Dell'Opera Metropolitana and the Fortezza. The best time to go to Siena is during the summer. The Palio - the horse race/festival Siena is known for is a must see. The Sienese get all worked up and party all through the summer representing their contradas (neighborhoods) by wearing flags. Go to Il Campo at night - have dinner, or sit around and share some wine with friends. Don't drink? Have some gelato or a granita from Gelateria Caribia.
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