Istituto Lorenzo de Medici (IDM)

I'm not a big clubber or bar hopper, but there are a ton of bars in which to get drunk and blow all your cash (that was almost double b/c of the exchange rate) on and go home with an either good looking or skeevy foreign guy! Go to all the muesuems- it's Florence- they're amazing! So much art and history, it;s mind blowing! Also, travel, travel, travel! All over Italy and Europe! The train is really easy to use in Italy and not so expensive, you can go to almost any Italian city! But, trains are notoriously always late arriving and departing in Italy, and staff at the stations are not usually helpful in my opinion. Also, the people who hang around the stations (especially in Florence and Bologna) are really, really creepy and dangerous. Ladies: be really careful and don't go alone, and be careful of the underground areas....

Apartments were varied in appearance and size, but all the ones I saw were privately owned and all over the city. People were generally happy with their roommate circumstances and facilities.

easyjet.com

I loved it- it was an amazing experience. I was really homesick and depressed and lonely at first, but I soon met some great people (including my best friend to this day), and I'm so happy I stayed! Try to meet and mingle with as many Italians and other foreign people as possible!

I took Italian for 2 years before I left, was a deciding factor in me going there to complete my required third year. Everyone basically speaks English in Florence b/c there are Americans everywhere. But, if you're willing to learn Italian and try it your speaking skills will improve big time! It's hard though to meet Italians to speak to for more than a requisite 5 minute conversation.