One of a kind Experience

Ratings
Overall
5
Academics: 5
Support: 4
Fun: 5
Housing: 4
Safety: 5
Review

I spent July 2017 in Florence as part of the CCIS program. It was honestly amazing. I loved all of it. The city itself is incredibly beautiful and there's a lot to see and do, especially if you're interested in art and Italian culture. I took an Italian language class taught completely in Italian so it was definitely a different course experience than one you get in the US and at times challenging because you do rely on your knowledge of the language. Thankfully, it is easy to catch on to things and really good practice if you're serious about learning. I thought the professors were great! The course material was appropriate and left plenty of time to engage in other activities. I spent most of the day around the city. The advisor was also helpful and provided great support to students adjusting. They provide fantastic resources about Florence and the university too. Take advantage of those student discounts around Florence; they make a difference! I loved how the university offered activities to engage students and help get to know each other. My roommates and I were raving about the pasta we made at a cooking class they offered! It is one of my favorite memories! We also went to a wine tasting, a field trip to a smaller nearby town and so much more. They also offered weekend trips that were the highlights of my entire trip. I felt they were very organized, informative and you really got to tour other places well for the price that you paid. Not to mention its a relief not having to worry about planning and booking on your own. I do feel that these trips played a major role on my friendships. I got to know fantastic people on this program, some of which I'm fortunate enough and eager to see regularly back home! They place very well and accurately to your preferences in terms of the housing. As for my life post-program, I feel like it really opened my eyes to new experiences and increased my own confidence. I feel more confident in my knowledge and contributions across various situations. Studying abroad encourages you to be more social and take risks and become comfortable with that. It does count as some international experience which looks great on paper and is something fun and beneficial to talk about (your enthusiasm and knowledge can go a long way). I actually recommend studying abroad to a lot of people who are skeptical and I have a couple of friends that have gone and loved it as well!

Would you recommend this program?
Yes, I would
Year Completed
2017
Private Note to Provider (optional)
Some placements are in old buildings and require constant maintenance which is completely understandable and not the issue exactly. It's only a small issue when we had to wait a while for people to come to fix something (they came 3 hours after the scheduled time) and it really cuts into your time and day if you have a plans. Also, please consider placing people only on the 1st or 2nd floor in the buildings that have no elevator. We were on the 4th floor with steep stairs and we had a luggage problem. These didn't hinder the experience all together (we actually laugh about it), but are just some suggestions in terms of what I think should be considered for future participants.
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