Name: The American University of Rome
Brand: The American University of Rome
SKU: 3011
Rating: 9.8 (5 reviews)


<p class="p1"><span class="s1"></span></p><div class="awesome-image centered" style=""><img style="" src="http://cdn3.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto1-etheridge-1438757968.jpg" alt="







A view of the Vatican at sunset"><div class="caption"><p>Picture I took of the Vatican at sunset</p></div></div><h3><span style="line-height: 24px;">Why did you decide to apply for an international program?</span></h3><p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">I decided to apply for an international program because I thoroughly enjoy traveling. Although I did not know any Italian, I was still looking for some way to be able to go to another country for January term this year. I wanted to dive into a new culture and learn as much as I could, given that I only had a month to experience it.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">Why did you choose IES Abroad in Rome?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">I chose the IES Abroad Rome program because I wanted to visit somewhere that was different. I had never considered going to Italy when I got to college, but after realizing that this program was not only one of the more interesting programs, but also one of the longest trips in comparison to the other programs, I was hooked. To be able to spend a month in a city that I had only learned about in history classes and wanted to know more about was an opportunity that I could not pass up.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">What was your favorite part about Rome?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">My favorite part about the location was the history that the city of Rome possesses. I had only learned and heard about the ancient city and I truly appreciated all that the city had to offer during my time there. The streets may have been old, but the people brought the youth out of the streets and into the atmosphere that surrounded us.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">What made your program unique?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">What makes it unique is that what we learned about in the powerpoint slideshows was right outside our doors. We were able to take field study days and adventure out into Rome to actually see the churches, monuments, and environments that we were learning about in class, and I thought that made for an astounding experience.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">How did local IES Abroad staff support you throughout your program?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The staff of the IES Abroad Rome program were fantastic and always willing to help in any way possible. They wanted us to have the best experience we could with our time there and it was great that they were able to set up certain events and trips for us. If I had tried to set up a whole weekend trip to Naples, Pompeii, and to see Mount Vesuvius, it may have been a good weekend; but with IES Abroad setting that up for us, it was a trip I will never forget.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The only thing that I wish I could have done differently was attend more of the IES Abroad activities that were set up for us. Although I did go to many of the activities set up, such as Italian cooking, going on a tour of an ancient area of Rome, and the trattorias, where we could eat at places we never would have found on our own, I did venture out a lot with some of the people in my group just to go and see what was around the area. I only wish that I could have done more of that venturing with knowledgeable IES Abroad staff, such as my professor in particular Gionni Ponti.</span></p><div class="awesome-image centered" style=""><img style="" src="http://cdn1.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto2-etheridge-1438758011.jpg" alt="







A bridge in Rome, Italy"><div class="caption"><p>Bridge across from the IES Rome Center</p></div></div><h3><span class="s1">Describe a day in the life of your program.</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A day in the life of the program would start with waking up and walking to class in the morning. We would have class for about an hour and a half, have a short break, and then finish with the last hour and a half left. I would then go get lunch with some of the people in my class, and then we would usually walk around and try to find something that we had not seen before in the city.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">We would then find our way back to our apartment and relax for a bit, then go out and get a snack or find a place to hang out for a little while, like a caf&eacute; or a park near a monument we were going to see, until dinner came around. Then we would go get dinner, usually with people from our class and a few people from outside of the class, and eat talk about the day. Then to end the night we would find a place to hang out for an hour or two, and then head back to the apartment.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">What did you enjoy doing outside of your coursework and scheduled activities?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">I enjoyed walking by the Vatican every single day on the way to the program and on the way to my apartment. Although it is not much of an "activity", being able to walk past an iconic piece of history, that I had only seen on TV and in movies before, was breathtaking.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">I lived in an apartment right in the city. I lived with four other guys, three other students from Wofford and one Italian student who worked with IES Abroad. It was a spacious apartment for five people and the location was great as it was only about fifteen minutes away from the IES Abroad center. I enjoyed being able to make our own food on occasion, and it was nice being able to live with guys that I did not necessarily know all that well, even though we all go to the same school.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">Now that you're home, how has studying abroad impacted your life?</span></h3><p>















































</p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">My program helped me form great friendships with people from Wofford who I did not know that well prior to the program and also helped me gain more confidence in unknown environments. While at home or at college, I get into a daily routine that is considered to be safe and within my comfort zone. After visiting Italy with the IES Abroad program, I was put into many situations where I had no idea what I was doing or saying, basically I was having to problem solve a lot. This has helped me become more of a problem solver back in the United States, where although I may not be outside of my comfort zone often, whenever I am I feel prepared to handle the situation.</span></p>


Chief Etheridge

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Chief Etheridge who participated in The American University of Rome program.

Chief Etheridge | The American University of Rome

Chief Etheridge - 2015 Program Participant


<p class="p1"><span class="s1"></span></p><div class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width: 300px;"><img style="" src="http://cdn1.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto1-hanlon-1457601805.png" alt="







View of Capri from the mountains"><div class="caption"><p>Capri</p></div></div><h3>Why did you decide to apply for an international program as a college freshman?</h3><p></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">It has always been my dream to travel to Europe and explore the "Old World" that is so rich in history and culture. I also really wanted to travel and meet people while I was young, and I would not let this kind of an opportunity get away from me. Being away from home could be hard, but I will never regret the decision I made and the experiences I had.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">Why did you choose your specific program?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The University of Maryland, where I am currently enrolled, offered a freshman abroad program which allowed me to meet other Maryland freshman and travel to Rome with them. The combination of meeting people from back home while also going to an international university where I could meet people from abroad was such a tempting prospect and turned out to be a great decision.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">What was your favorite part about Rome?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">It would be hard to narrow down one part about Rome that I could call my favorite. But if I had to discount the food, the people, the culture, and the ease of travel, I would say it would probably be the history and the artifacts that populate every corner of the city. There are endless sites and museums to visit within Rome, and around the country and continent.</span></p><div class="awesome-image left-aligned" style="width: 300px;"><img style="" src="http://cdn2.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto2-hanlon-1457601833.png" alt="







Lake in Interlaken, Switzerland"><div class="caption"><p>Interlaken, Switzerland</p></div></div><h3><span class="s1">What characteristics of your program made it unique?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">What made our program unique was that we were freshman and only 18 years old. None of us had lived away from home, in fact none of us had even experienced college. The program definitely taught me a lot about responsibility and how to take care of myself.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">How did local staff support you throughout your program?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The school staff at the American University of Rome were absolutely wonderful. The school is the perfect size and we really got to meet some of the administrators who were very friendly and helpful. Also, the school took security very seriously and had guards outside of the school, so I never felt unsafe.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">There are so many things to do and see in Rome, and in Europe, and I feel that I got as much out of my experience as I could hope. Whenever I hear about something in Europe, or in Rome specifically, that I failed to see I have a pang of regret, but then I remind myself of everything I was fortunate enough to see.</span></p><div class="awesome-image right-aligned" style="width: 300px;"><img style="" src="http://cdn2.goabroad.com/images/interviews/interviewphoto3-hanlon-1457601859.png" alt="







View of Rome through an apartment window"><div class="caption"><p>Window view</p></div></div><h3><span class="s1">Describe a day in the life of your program.</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Every morning began waking up and taking a combination of walk and bus to get to class. After class we would grab pizza at the same <i>pizzeria</i> as usual (or <i>gnocchi</i> if it was Thursday, because Thursday is gnocchi day in Rome), and we would often attend another afternoon class. Then I would usually walk back to our apartment and cook dinner.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Many nights we would be adventurous and take a team down to Piazza Venezia, which is the historical center of Rome and explore. Often, however, we would just hang out with other students we had met at a bar or at someone's apartment.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">What is one of your favorite moments from your time abroad?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">One weekend, a few friends and I traveled to the Amalfi Coast and we had a wonderful time racing a boat off the coast of Positano, visiting Capri and viewing Pompeii.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?</span></h3><p class="p1"><span class="s1">We stayed in an apartment, living next to normal Italian families, which was really interesting. The best part was the great memories shared in that apartment, but if I had to pick a physical aspect, it would probably be the balcony view. It overlooked an average Italian street but it was very interesting to see life there as it really is, and I honestly miss the view.</span></p><h3><span class="s1">As you finish up your freshman year at the University of Maryland, how would you say your time abroad has impacted your life at home?</span></h3><p>















































</p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The program taught me a lot about how to deal with being away from home, how to take care of myself and handle issues as they come up (especially when we traveled for the weekend), and has definitely enhanced my world view. Many preconceived notions about Italy, and really the world outside the United States, were crushed, which definitely made me more open-minded. But the biggest impact was all the new friends I made by being abroad and being a part of the program, and I couldn't be happier about that.</span></p>


Bobby Hanlon

Check out this GoAbroad Interview with Bobby Hanlon who participated in The American University of Rome program.

Bobby Hanlon | The American University of Rome Alumni Interview

Bobby Hanlon - 2015 Program Participant

Spend your summer in Rome combining academic learning with plenty of travel opportunities! The AUR Summer School is an educational, cultural, and social experience you won’t forget.

In 4 weeks, earn up to 6 credits that are easily transferable back to your home institution. Our summer courses include:
• Art History
• Archeology & Classics
• Business
• Communication & Digital Media
• English Writing
• Film
• Fine Arts
• International Relations
• Italian Language and Culture
• Science

Most of these focus on experiential learning, making use of Rome and (oftentimes) other places in Italy as an extension of the classroom. 

NEW: For the first time during summer, we will also have courses in Law and Entrepreneurship.

Summer Schools 2023:
Session I: Wednesday, June 1 to Thursday, June 30
Session II: Wednesday, July 5 to Tuesday, August 1

Summer School at The American University of Rome

The American University of Rome

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The American University of Rome is the oldest private American institution of higher education in Rome, Italy. We offer undergraduate bachelor degrees in 10 disciplines to a body of about 500 students each semester. We are also a destination for students from American colleges and universities for year-long, semester, and summer programs. We are committed to excellence in education, helping prepare our students to live and work across cultures as skilled and knowledgeable global citizens.

The American University of Rome is the oldest private American institution of higher education in Rome, Italy. We offer undergraduate bachelor degrees in 10 disciplines to a body of about 500 students each semester. We are also a destination for students from American colleges and universities for year-long, semester, and summer programs. We are committed to excellence in education, helping prepar...

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Semester of a lifetime

Prior to living in Italy, I truly had no idea what to expect. I had never been to Europe before or away from home for more than a month. Now that my semester at AUR in Rome has come to an end, I can honestly say it was the experience of a lifetime. My apartment (only a 20 min. walk away from school) provided by AUR was located in Trastevere, which made for a real cultural immersion into the Italian lifestyle. There were Italian families living in my building and my apartment was just minutes away from the tram stop, pharmacy, and grocery store. I was forced to learn basic Italian phrases quickly and even if I didn't pronounce the words correctly, most Italians appreciated my effort in trying. Being surrounded by the history (ancient ruins, Colosseum, etc.) of Rome was a nice change from the typical college campus or suburbs that I'm used to. This made me intrigued to learn about Rome's history on my own and in the classes that I was taking at AUR. I liked the small class sizes of AUR because it gave room for a better class discussion and to know the professor a little better. I can now say that I have a better understanding of Italy thanks to my Sociology and Italian Media/Pop Culture courses. 

My professors at AUR were great and super helpful. The only time I found the course-load to be a bit demanding was if I was traveling for the weekend, but it's all about how you balance your time between school and exploring Italy/other parts of Europe. My Sociology and Italian language courses had class outside of the classroom a few times, once by the Tiber River and a few times going around Monteverde, which I thought was a great way to change things up with learning. Student Life and the res grads at AUR were always there whenever I had questions. They did a great job at planning social gatherings for the students, such as cooking classes and Rome night walks during the first week we arrived. These activities helped me to meet other people and feel comfortable in my new surroundings.

My time in Rome wouldn't have been the same without the people I met. I have formed, what I can tell will be, lifelong friendships this past semester and I'm so glad I was able to live with and travel around Europe with them. Going through the initial culture shock, feelings of homesickness, and just all around adapting to a new lifestyle together really brought us closer together. Living in a foreign country together and going through the ups & downs of traveling--something only the people who I was can relate to and share certain memories. Thus, a special bond was formed. A few of the friends I've made are already planning to visit this fall and I couldn't be more excited! 

Overall, if you are looking to further your academics in a city that offers so much both historically and culturally, I would highly recommend anyone to study at AUR.

Just Roaming around Rome

The American University of Rome is an excellent institution for study abroad students. Being my first time abroad, I was nervous about how I would fit in. Those nerves disappeared after my first week. The student body was so welcoming, and the staff at the Student Life office were easy to talk to and helpful. The school is very small, and I was able to form good relationships with other students and staff. The class work was exactly what I wanted, and the courses were a refreshing change to what I take at my home university. Rome is a gorgeous city with all its fantastic history and architecture. As students, we lived in apartments that gave us easy access to the public transit and to the train station for the trains to the airport and all over Italy. This was the perfect city for me, and the food was incredible. Gelato is an everyday must, but the restaurants in the city are bursting at the seams with amazing Italian dishes. For people who want an excellent balance between their education and their free adventure time, this program will give you both.

An Opportunity of a Lifetime

Studying abroad is truly an amazing experience and the American Univeristy of Rome gives you this opportunity of a lifetime. Living and studying in Rome is rewarding in so many ways, whether it's by experiencing Italian culture, seeing historical sights or meeting students from all different kinds of backgrounds, there is something for everyone. The school does a great job of including so many diverse students while still explaining and basking in the wonderful Italian culture which surrounds the campus. Located in Rome, studying at AUR allows many opportunities for travel throughout the semester whether directly through school sponsored trips or indirectly, by not having classes on Friday. I met all kinds of students while studying at AUR, from native Italians to other study abroad students to students from all across the globe studying there as well. The opportunity to meet so many interesting people, see so many interesting places all while receiving an great education at this school is not one I would pass up!

An Unforgettable Experience

AUR made my study abroad experience unforgettable. It allowed me to create genuine relationships with other students and professors. You grow as a student and as a person while in Italy. You grow as a student because the professors at AUR challenge you academically. It is a once in a lifetime experience that helps you grow as a person.

Fun Study Abroad

My study abroad experience has been great so far. I really have gotten immersed in the culture throughout my time here.

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