<p>So I'm planning on going for a full year to Italy, and I've applied to AIFS and GSE. My only question is if anyone knows what are the chances of getting accepted into either, or any really, program with a low gpa... say around 2.7 </p>
<p>p.s- both programs have a min requirement of 2.5, but I'm just wondering if anybody else has list of programs that don't require a good gpa.</p>
<p>Do NOT let a low gpa keep you from studying abroad! If you are not “accepted” into a study abroad program, go to an international program offered by an Italian university or go to a language school structured to teach not only Italian language, but also Italian culture.</p>
<p>I did a summer semester at the Universita Italiana per Stranieri in Siena, Italy (beaaautiful little city!)</p>
<p>[Universit</a> per Stranieri di Siena<a href=“home%20page%20–there’s%20a%20link%20for%20the%20English%20version,%20but%20they%20seem%20to%20be%20revising%20it…”>/url</a></p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.unistrasi.it/]Universit”>http://www.unistrasi.it/]Universit</a> per Stranieri di Siena](<a href=“http://www.unistrasi.it/]Universit”>http://www.unistrasi.it/)</p>
<p>This link will give you a pdf of the courses–the have 1 month courses throughout the year (you can take one more, or 6 months, whatever – each month costs 470 euros (tution).</p>
<p>They offer four 3-month (trimester courses) per year. The trimester might be 470 euros times 3 = 1410 euros (tution) for three months, OR it will be slightly less. Housing will probably be around 200 - 350 euros a month.</p>
<p>There is a “mensa” which is a student cafeteria and if you attend the university you can buy packets of meal tickets. (you can always cook at home, too, if you want, i don’t remember if they have homestays)</p>
<p>I did a summer course there. 20 hours of week of Italian language, grammar, etc., and I did an Italian Film course and a History of Siena course. Both were really cool.</p>
<p>The site they have up now looks like it’s a new one – and the English version seems to be under construction. So, if you can navigate the Italian version, check it out. To get in to the school you will have to show a copy of your high school diploma, even if you’re already attending a US university.</p>
<p>Also, there is a similar university in Perugia. I did a summer course there, too. My advice: stick with Siena. Based on my experience, I would say that Perugia has the koodies. When I was there, there were just too many weird people, and a Swedish girl I knew had a near really-bad experience. I found Siena to be much more pleasant, and I felt safer there.</p>
<p>Remember, too, that there are several other universities that have similar types of programs for international students and that anyone with a high school diploma can attend. If you want to get a certificate from the program, you have to attend at least 80% of the classes.</p>
<p>Siena is a beautiful, amazing city! And it’s not too far away from Florence, and is easy to get to Rome, or wherever, from the city by train or by bus.</p>
<p>To Italian language schools that offer Italian Language + Italian culture, history, etc. check out my fav:</p>
<p><a href=“http://languageschoollinks.com/italy/index.html[/url]”>http://languageschoollinks.com/italy/index.html</a></p>
<p>I don’t know why Language School Links mostly lists langauge schools and language course, cause a lot of those schools offer Italian culture classes, history, etc. Some also offer painting, culinary stuff, etc.</p>
<p>My other 2 cents: GPA has nothing to do with whether or not you can study abroad. My impression is that you have to have a good GPA because if you don’t, you can’t get student loans, and a lot of people have to use student loans to study abroad. (Ok, that’s not the only reason, but it has to be an important one). All sorts of countries have these types of international programs for foreign students because, among other things, it helps to build better relations for the country (Italy, in this case) in the long run. There cool programs. You’ll learn a lot and have a lot of fun!</p>