Learn, Intern, and Live Abroad at the John Felice Rome Center

I absolutely loved being able to spend my freshman year abroad, which is an opportunity not usually granted by most universities. The staff was very helpful and supportive of not only my studies, but of all my learning and growth while I was abroad. It was a different first college experience in comparison to that of other students, but well worth it. I was able to explore Rome and learn the culture and language, as well as travel to other places on the weekends and breaks, giving me the chance to see new places and visit old friends. It was also a good fit for me because everything I needed was available on campus or somewhere close-by, but I could also go into the city if I wanted a different experience. The hustle & bustle of Rome is unlike anything I have ever experienced, and I loved the on-site classes offered by the university. I can never eat gelato or a plate of pasta without thinking about my second home, which is what the JFRC became for me. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

I loved my experience at the JFRC. I made countless new friends, many of which I am still in touch with and have actually visited a few times since returning to the states. The staff at the JFRC were wonderful. The professors truly cared about all of the students which can be attributed partly to the size of the program (which is a good thing). Many of my friends who went abroad spent alot of time partying and going out but I am glad I was challenged academically having taken two of my favorite classes abroad at the JFRC (International Monetary Relations and Intro to International Business both taught by Marshall Langer). The number of study trips offered at discounted prices (vs. individual travel) was definitely a great aspect of the program. No class on Fridays was an excellent feature of the program as well since it allowed for an extra day of personal travel on weekends. Overall, I would not trade my experience for anything in the world. I got to see many beautiful places and meet some truly wonderful people, some of which I am still close friends with even though I am in NYC and NJ. It was one of, if not the best experience of my life thus far. The critiques I have are minor and pale in comparison to the many great features and overall experience of the program and I have already recommended the program to other Fordham students.

I have never been to Europe and Rome was the perfect place! The citizens, students, and professors I met were all amazing. This is honestly one of the best experiences I've ever had. I miss being able to walk down to the local shops and bars to grab a espresso. I spent most of my time abroad in the city of Rome and not in other countries and I do not regret it. There is so many things to see and do and eat in Rome that you cannot fit in a semester abroad. I will definitely miss all the things Rome had to offer.

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.