Program Reviews

I think the most remarkable aspect of my experience abroad in Vietnam was the community between the American students and the Vietnamese partners. We lived in the same dorm, which strengthened our connections as we could quickly make plans and meet. The fact that we were assigned a group of Vietnamese students to be our partners made feeling like a local that much easier. They were so enthusiastic to show us their city and their favorite spots, immediately integrating us into the culture and the country. Without their enthusiasm and insight, I would never have felt like I truly lived my experience, or lived in Vietnam. Something that stuck with me from the very beginning of the program was the fact that we were living abroad, while other programs only let you study abroad.

One of the tips I would give other students doing the same program is to really get to know and befriend the Vietnamese students. They are a boundless resource and each have unique backgrounds and experiences that they are dying to share with you. I really got to know many of them, even writing one of my final papers on one of my partner's family, and the socio-political impacts of their situation and actions. Learning about their lives and their families is extremely eye opening and essential, and some of my favorite experiences were the long conversations I was able to have with my Vietnamese friends.

I can honestly say that this semester did not disappoint. I loved everything about this semester. I enjoyed going two weeks early before classes started in order to be able to have a structured travel time within Italy. I would even say that I experienced some of the best food while on the school sponsored trips.
The SLA's my year were wonderful and I felt like I could actually approach them if I needed anything from them. Honestly, the whole staff is pretty great. And it's not just American teachers or American staff either, this program has a bunch of different people from a variety of countries which made things very interesting.
I also loved loved loved the Calcio tournaments every Wednesday. I have not played soccer since I was a child, and I can honestly say that I'm not the best, but I had a really great time. And Beer & Pizza afterwards made it an amazing time as well!!
The only thing that I really had a problem with here is that I am from a school that is not Loyola University of Chicago, and I think that I was not as prepared for this semester as someone who went to Loyola Chicago would have been. I had to create a new school email for Loyola and had to interact with their new system while I was abroad. This turned out to be alright, but I really did not know how to use it before I got to Rome where other students could help me figure it out. Since I did not know how to use the Loyola e-mail while I was still in America, I was not really prepared for the semester ahead and it was really tough.

When my parents found out I was doing an academic year abroad, they looked at me like I was crazy! However, when I got home from my adventure, they realized it was the best thing that I could have done.

The Rome Center is about 30 minutes from Centro in a nice neighborhood called Balduina. The city is very accessible, with multiple bus stops just a few minutes' walk from campus. The neighborhood itself is lovely, quiet, and has restaurants, a grocery store, a bookstore, a clothing store, and LOTS of gelato, all located within walking distance. The campus is gorgeous, with a courtyard in front and an olive grove in back. In the spring, the orange trees in the courtyard grow fruit which you can take! The classroom, dorms, gym, bookstore, library, cafeteria, and cafe are all located in one building. I stayed in a double dorm room both semesters and the room was just big enough and comfortable. The building was an old convent, so the walls are pretty thin, but if your neighbors do quiet hours, there's nothing to worry about! The campus is gorgeous, and the amenities are awesome. You get two free meals a day at the cafeteria (which is almost always delicious), and I recommend paying the 250 extra euros to get the cafe card!

Academically, I had a great experience. The classes are fairly easy and if you put in a little work, you can get great grades. I especially loved my on-site classes, which is one of the BEST things about the Rome Center! I took Dr. Nicholson's Art in Rome class and, even though it was tough, it ended up being my favorite class because I got to see ALL of Rome. The professors are all great, very knowledgable, and they make the material fun and interesting. I also did an internship, which was fantastic and really bolstered the ol' resume. By the way, no class on Fridays!

The Rome Center gave me a ton of amazing experiences. Once a semester, class is cancelled on Wednesday to go to the Papal Audience. Throughout the semester, they give out tickets to mass at Saint Peters. If you get the chance, TAKE IT! I got to go to Mass at Saint Peters with the Pope in February. JFRC really tries to get you into the city. One day in orientation, they take you to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill and give you the rest of the day to explore Rome. There's also a scavenger hunt at the beginning of every semester!

JFRC has a lot of travel options. Every semester, you take a weekend trip with the other students, staff, and your SLAs. In the fall, we went to the gorgeous region of Umbria. In the spring, we got to go to the South and stay on the Amalfi Coast. They feed you well and you get to go to a water buffalo farm! There are also study trips offered every semester. I took two: the Greece trip for fall break and the Balkans trip in the spring. These are costly, but are amazing experiences and payment plans are available. For the Greece trip, we spent 10 days exploring Greece, learning how to dance, drinking, and exploring Mykonos. In the Balkans, you tour Belgrade and Bosnia. They have so much history and are gorgeous, and I definitely recommend this trip! I also went on the Assisi pilgrimage in the fall. Father Al and Father Ted, two of the best people ever, take you to the small medieval town for a day of prayer, reflection, and great food. I'm not religious but I still loved it.

Even aside from the study trips, Rome is so easy to travel from; you can get anywhere, and there's always someone willing to go with you or at least split a cab. While I was abroad I went to Greece, Iceland, Prague, Paris, Belgrade, Bosnia, Croatia, Florence, Pompeii, and London. Traveling in Europe is SO cheap when you're over there and it's so easy.

I absolutely loved my time at the Rome Center and wouldn't trade it for anything. The academics are great, the city is gorgeous, and the staff (especially Dr. Mike Beazley) are always willing to help you out. I had a hard time with my mental health second semester and Dr. Beazley was willing to talk to me and even took me to off-campus doctor's appointment. Not to mention, the Beazley girls are adorable! If you want to study abroad, I definitely recommend the Rome Center.

I remember having this distinct feeling of "Holy cow. My life is going to change once I step foot off the plane in Rome." While, admittedly, it did not change right then and there, looking back I do see that moment as the start of what would be an incredible three month journey that would be some of the happiest, saddest, toughest and insightful moments of my life.

If I could tell future participants anything about the study abroad program at the John Felice Rome Center it would be this: allow yourself to be vulnerable abroad. Take that long bus ride with your friend into a part of Rome that might be a bit "off the map." Use your broken Italian to try and have a conversation with a stranger at the bus stop. Allowing yourself to take these small risks will open up your abroad experience to unbelievable measures and past the traditional experiences tourists have when they come to the city for only a week.

Loyola’s diverse and accessible study abroad programs compelled me to study abroad at the John Felice Rome Center in Fall 2016. While in Rome, I dove headfirst into many exciting opportunities: interning at an Italian film company, coaching as a co-captain in the JFRC soccer league, writing a travel blog, giving the Student Reflection Speech at the End of Semester Banquet…and travelling throughout Europe! Overall, my study abroad experience made me a more cultivated, resourceful, and fearless individual! I loved JFRC so much, that I recommend it to anyone who is looking for an extraordinary ("straordinario" in Italian) study abroad experience.

I had an incredible semester in Rome. The campus was super accommodating, the teaching staff was full of brilliant, passionate professionals, and the support from the Student Life Assistants made it really easy to get comfortable in a foreign environment and have fun. The academics were extremely engaging yet not overwhelming--there was still plenty of time to explore the city and travel around Europe. I would recommend the JFRC to anyone interested in studying abroad in Rome.

Studying in Ho Chi Minh was life changing for several reasons that I can never get over. First, Loyola made the process easy and swift, while keeping the prices extremely low. Second, the price of living in Vietnam is not even relatively close to the United States, so everything on my bucket list was checked off and more. Third, the professors at Loyola's Vietnam Center are great resources to get acclimated to the Southeast Asia 'climate' (whether that be the cultural norms or the actual weather). Lastly, the excursions alone are worth studying abroad here. I seriously could not have been more thrilled with my choice to study abroad in Vietnam, and once I graduate, I will have to find my way back. I recommend not passing up this study abroad experience for all the reasons not even included in this review!

I studied abroad at the Loyola Vietnam Center spring semester of 2016, and I couldn't have made a better decision. It was such an immersive and eye-opening experience, nothing short of life-changing. Some of my favorite experiences abroad include canyoning in Đà Lạt; watching the sunrise over the sand dunes in Mũi Né; eating tarantula in Cambodia; exploring Angkor, one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia; kayaking in Hạ Long Bay; teaching English in Saigon; and meeting some of the most wonderful people along the way. If you’re looking to step outside of your comfort zone, immerse yourself in a rich and vibrant culture, and have the experience of a lifetime, then the Loyola Vietnam Center is the program for you! Hẹn gặp lại Việt Nam - I'll see you again soon!

i studied at the jfrc, but was studying under Xavier university professors. We had fantastic trips to florence, Siena, assisi, and reggio Amelia. Very affordable. Jfrc campus is far from downtown (25 minute bus ride)

Apart from Rome being an amazing city, not many study abroad programs offer rigorous courses. However, at the JFRC, I was able to take many of my upper level Political Science courses with incredible, highly acclaimed professors. Their wonderful internship director even set me up with an internship at a huge international corporate firm. Living in Balduina gives you a small town Roman vibe and also forces you to get out and explore. Not once did I ever feel nervous or unsafe at the JFRC or out in Rome. The staff at JFRC truly care about you; they will become your family- you will NOT get that with any other program. Such an amazing experience. I would choose the JFRC tens times over again.