Evan
"When I first decided to study abroad, it really wasn’t my decision; in fact, my parents chose it for me. My mom being a recruiter for a successful company convinced me that studying abroad would look great on my resume and distinguish myself from other 
students.
To be honest, I was petrified of leaving this country.
I had been on an airplane maybe 3 or 4 times my whole life, and I had never traveled alone before.
It never really hit me that I was studying abroad until I got off the plane and wandered over to the bus station.
I couldn’t speak a lick of Italian; therefore, I had no way of communicating with the bus driver or anybody for that matter.
Somehow, someway, I finally was able to meet with some students who were in the same program as me.
The point I’m making here and the whole reason that employers see studying 
abroad as an advantage to students is this: students who are willing to travel to a different country, a different culture, a new language, are gaining more than this, this unique experience is improving every characteristic employers are looking for when they are recruiting.
While in Italy, I was forced to invent myself, I grew as a person, my confidence grew, and I learned to communicate effectively with complete strangers. A comment my program coordinator said to us that has stuck with me ever since was this, “On your travel breaks, your going to make mistakes, your going to miss a train or a bus, and your going to find a way to make it work, and this will make you stronger.”
Make no mistakes about it, everyone misses a train.
My experience studying abroad was amazing, unforgettable, and priceless. I have networked with hundreds of students spread out across the United States, I have made many friends that I still talk to and reminisce with today. I traveled to Egypt and stood in front of the pyramids, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. I traveled to Switzerland and stood at the top of the Alps.
I traveled to Paris and stood beneath the
Eiffel Tower. I traveled to the beaches of Barcelona, Spain. All of these experiences I hold dear in my heart. To have the opportunity to study abroad and not take that chance, would be the biggest mistake of your life. I am pleading that you don’t make that mistake. Travel, learn, discover, come back and share your experiences with anyone that will listen."
MY GUIDE TO ITALY
1. Which program did you attend?
CIMBA – CONSORTIUM INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT BUSINESS AND ANALYSIS
2. Were there different choices of where to live? Which do you recommend?
WE ONLY HAD ONE CHOICE – I LIVED IN DORM ROOMS WITH THE OTHER STUDENTS WHO WERE STUDYING ABROAD.
THE ONLY CHOICE I WAS GIVEN WAS BETWEEN SHARING A DORM 
OR HAVING MY OWN ROOM. I CHOSE TO ROOM WITH SOMEONE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO GET TO KNOW SOMEONE FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE UNITED STATES AND BECAUSE IT WAS COST EFFECTIVE.
3. How close to school are the different accommodations?
THE DORMS WE STAYED AT WERE ON CAMPUS.
4. Did you have cooking facilities in you place of residence? Is there a cafeteria nearby?
WE HAD NO COOKING FACILITIES ON CAMPUS OR IN THE DORMS, WHICH DID NOT MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE BECAUSE WE HAD A CAFETERIA ON CAMPUS, AND AS A MALE, YOU COULD IMAGINE MY COOKING ABILITIES. MANY OF THE WOMEN I STUDYED ABROAD WITH DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE ENJOYED COOKING FACILITIES.
5. Do you need to purchase a monthly travel card for city transportation?
I DID NOT. IT DEFINITELY MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHERE YOU ARE STUDYING ABROAD. IF YOU ARE STUDYING IN A SMALL TOWN OR A LARGE TOWN, WHAT COUNTRY YOU ARE IN, AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE PLANNING TO DO A LOT OF TRAVELING. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND RESEARCHING THESE PARTICULAR THINGS BEFORE YOU STUDY ABROAD.
6. What are the popular lines/stops around the area?
I STUDIED IN ITALY, A VERY SMALL TOWN CALLED PADERNO DEL GRAPPA, ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF NORTH OF VENICE. MANY OF THE COOL SMALL TOWNS WERE A COUPLE HOURS AWAY, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF BASSANO DEL GRAPPA, CINQUE TERRE, LAKE COMO, FLORENCE, AND VENICE.
7. Would you recommend getting a cell phone there?
YES, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CELL PHONE WHILE YOU ARE TRAVELING, EXPECIALLY FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.
8. What was internet availability like on campus?
At your residence? INTERNET WAS AVAILABLE ON CAMPUS IN A COMPUTER ROOM, AS WELL AS, AN EXTRA FEE TO HAVE IT IN YOUR ROOM. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE RESTRAINTS THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT PUT ON OUR BANDWIDTH CAPABILITES IT WAS EXTREMELY SLOW AT TIMES.
9. If you don’t bring a laptop are there computer labs on campus? Internet cafes nearby?
THERE WERE NO INTERNET CAFES AVAILABLE, BUT YES A COMPUTER LAB WAS AVAILABLE ON CAMPUS UNTIL 1 AM.
10. Do you need to set up a bank account there? If so, what are the steps involved for doing so?
BEFORE LEAVING CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BANK AND NOTIFY THEM YOU ARE STUDYING ABROAD IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY, BECAUSE THEY WILL BLOCK YOUR ACCOUNT IF YOU DON’T.
IF 
YOU CAN, BRING SEVERAL OF YOUR ATM CARDS IN CASE YOU LOSE ONE OR GET ONE EATEN BY THE MACHINE.
11. Where did you do laundry?
What was the cost? WE HAD ON CAMPUS LAUNDRY FACILITIES. THEY GAVE US 12 LOADS OF LAUNDRY FOR THE SEMESTER. AFTER THAT, IT WAS AROUND 10 DOLLARS FOR A LOAD. ELECTRICITY AND WATER IS VERY EXPENSIVE IN EUROPE, I WOULD RECOMMEND BRINGING A LAUNDRY LINE SO YOU CAN HANG DRY YOUR CLOTHES.
12. Is there any clothing to avoid wearing?
THAT DEPENDS ON THE CLIMATE AND STYLE OF CLOTHING YOUR STUDY ABROAD LOCATION HAS. IN ITALY, THE CLIMATE WAS MUCH LIKE CALIFORNIA, SO WE DIDN’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BRINGING ANYTHING UNUSUAL. ITALIANS FROWN UPON AMERICAN STYLE CLOTHING, WHICH COULD MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, MANY STUDENTS DO A GREAT DEAL OF SHOPPING, ESPECIALLY SINCE MILAN AND OTHER CITIES ARE THE FASHION STYLE CAPITALS OF THE WORLD.
13. Did you go on any trips? Where?
I WANT ON MANY TRIPS. WE WERE GIVEN ALMOST A MONTH OF TRAVELING TIME. ON THE WEEKENDS WE TRAVELED TO LOCAL CITIES IN ITALY, SUCH AS FLORENCE AND VENICE. ON OUR WEEK LONG TRIPS I TRAVLED TO EGYPT, SWITZERLAND, BARCELONA, AND PARIS.
14. What kind of accommodations did you use while traveling (hostels, hotels etc)?
Any you recommend or any to avoid? I STAYED IN HOSTELS, THEY ARE THE CHEAPEST. THERE ARE MANY SITES YOU CAN USE TO EVALUATE CERTAIN HOSTELS THAT I WOULD RESEARCH BEFORE BOOKING ANY SUCH AS HOSTELWORLD.COM.
15. What were your favorite bars/pubs/nightclubs? Where were they?
I DIDN’T DO A WHOLE LOT OF BAR HOPPING AND NIGHTCLUBS SO I CAN’T BE TO USEFUL IN THIS DEPARTMENT. WHEN YOU GET THERE, ASK LOCALS, DO SOME LOCAL TRAVELING AND YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE A PROBLEM FINDING THE HOT SPOTS.
16. Favorite places to eat
EAT WHATEVER YOUR CULTURE IS FAMOUS FOR. WHILE IN ITALY I HAD MY FAIR SHARE OF PASTA AND PIZZAS. ITS ALSO UNIQUE TO TRY OTHER FOODS LIKE CHINESE AND MEXICAN BECAUSE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT TWISTS TO ADD.
17. Any particular travel books you recommend? NO
18. Were your classes/tests hard? CLASSES WERE CAKE.