STUDENTS' TIPS

Choosing to study abroad in Italy

By James Brown

Hear what three students had to say about their experiences studying abroad in Italy.

 

Cate McGehee made her way up the increasingly smaller stairs that ascend to the cupola—the highest tower—of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City . The steps closer to ground level were wide and shallow, making for an easy trek; one of her companions had thought it was to allow horses part of the way up during the basilica's construction in the 16th and 17th centuries. At McGehee's present height, nearing the peak of the cupola's overlook of Vatican City and Rome at more than 400 feet above the ground, ropes have been installed to help visitors pull themselves up spiral staircases, and long corridors don't fit snugly with the next.

When McGehee and three other students on the University of Washington 's monthlong Creative Writing in Rome program arrived at the top, they found a view of the historic city that none of its ancient residents had had the opportunity to witness. Current Roman law mandates that no building be taller than St. Peter's Basilica; standing literally above Rome is an experience that was not possible until the basilica's construction.

The prompt given to McGehee's program for a poem or short story for the day was to consider the infinite and the infinitesimal. Standing atop a 382-year-old building and looking out over Rome , the culmination of 2,500 years of history, seemed the perfect way to start.

Creative Writing in Rome is one of 28 programs offered to UW students considering studying abroad in Italy , and each is tailored to a different interest. Whether one is interested in climbing St. Peter's Basilica and writing a poem about the experience or sketching pieces of Roman architecture, there's a study abroad program in Italy that will fit a student's needs.

It's easy to find a reason to study there: Italian dining and wines are the stuff of legend, and there's no better place to take a course about European history than on top of where much of it happened. Rome has drawn many of the writers from the English literary canon, and German painter August Kopisch thrust the sleepy island of Capri into fame after a visit to its Blue Grotto sea cave captivated him. The hard part is choosing the program best suited for delivering the experience a student wants.

Programs vary considerably, from the brief, broad-in-scope exploration seminars to departmental ventures that present a single focus point to study over several months. Some trips offer an intense academic experience; others have fewer commitments to allow students to discover Italy on their own terms. And, of course, there's the program fee to be considered, possibly on top of tuition. Italy-bound UW students are fortunate to have so many choices, and should make an informed decision to find the program best suited to provide what they want out of the experience.

How to choose

Katie Matthews, a sophomore business student, will be studying in Milan for six months through the Business Departmental Exchange with Bocconi University . A large part of her decision was based on location; being in northern Italy will allow her to easily visit other countries during a two-week break and other downtime.

McGehee, a sophomore studying English and classics, took a course with the professor who leads the Creative Writing in Rome program. She also said it helped her to speak with past participants of the program before making a decision. “I actually was not very excited about going to Rome , or Italy , at all,” she said. “I went for the program and the people that were brought to the area.”

McGehee's program demanded much from its participants. Class met six times each week, usually from 9 a.m. until about 9 p.m. A few hours off in between let students get lunch and work on a poem or short story to be shared later that day.

Saragh Dabagh, a junior in the Near Eastern Studies department, spent a month in Italy through the Honors Departmental Program last summer. Her curriculum was less rigorous, she said. “Not every class met every day, so we were probably in class three hours a day, and then we had maybe two hours of outside work.”

It is important for students to consider what a program will ask of them and how much they are willing to give. Some find the community created by a highly involved program rewarding, while others would rather explore on their own with a minimal commitment to schoolwork. It may seem natural to stay within one's major, but learning about something entirely new can be rewarding. Many departmental programs welcome or even encourage novices to apply; in some, coursework is more forgiving and students from other departments can try new subjects with less risk to their grade than in a typical classroom.

Study abroad programs in Italy usually last at least a month and often a quarter or two. Program fees can vary; the Creative Writing in Rome program costs $3,000 and includes tuition, while the quarter-long program through the History Department costs $5,300 in addition to standard tuition.

Students tight on time or money should consider the UW's exploration seminars. These compacted study abroad trips typically last 16 to 30 days and are often cheaper than full-length programs. Last year, five exploration seminars were held in Italy , and program fees were as cheap as $2,400. Topics range from an examination of Italy 's socialized healthcare in Vicenza to a study of Sicily 's geology.

Making the most

Large program fees and a poor exchange rate can be daunting but shouldn't stop any student from studying abroad. Daily life in Italy can expensive or dirt cheap depending on location and a student's eating habits. Jennifer Wilkin, associate director of the UW Rome Center, hands out a pamphlet during each new program's orientation; it lists, in addition to cell phone stores and pharmacies, a list of cheap eats nearby. She also suggests cooking with friends instead of dining out to save money for other cultural experiences.

“There is really no need to miss anything important,” Wilkin wrote in an e-mail. “It's just a question of organizing your priorities and taking advantage of local resources, I think.”

UW students looking to experience Italian life should, with proper planning and investigation, be able to find a program that fits their budget in addition to coursework.

“If you're worried about the finances, it'll be worth it in the long run,” Matthews said. “The money invested now will definitely pay off.”