Lorenzo de' Medici: Florence

I’m sharing this to warn future students about serious issues I experienced with Lorenzo de’ Medici (LdM) regarding housing fees, lack of transparency, and transcript withholding. When I applied for housing, I requested an apartment. Instead, I was placed in the S4 Hotel without consultation. While LdM’s documents vaguely referenced the possibility of a “supplemental housing fee,” they never disclosed the actual amount—$1,030—or that the S4 Hotel carried such a charge. What’s worse: LdM’s own policy states that any supplemental fee must be communicated and paid within two days of assignment. I was never billed. Not once. No invoice. No breakdown. No email. Nothing—not during my entire semester abroad. Seven months after the program ended, LdM emailed me out of the blue claiming I owed $1,030. And now, they are refusing to release my academic transcript because I’m disputing this charge. I’m back in the U.S., trying to finish my degree, and this is putting my graduation at risk. All over a charge that was never disclosed or invoiced when it was supposed to be. LdM has shown no willingness to resolve this reasonably, despite the fact that this situation has a clear and simple solution. I’ve had to begin involving a legal team to challenge what feels like financial coercion. Please be cautious if you’re considering studying here. Charges can appear months later with no warning. You may be denied your transcript over hidden or improperly handled fees. Administrative communication is slow, unclear, and unsupportive. I truly hope no one else has to go through this. LdM needs to change how it treats its students and uphold its own policies before accepting more international applicants. — Ava V.

I studied in the fall of 2021. The campus itself was spread all around Florence, which sometimes made it tough to make it from class to class in time. That is really my only complaint, though! They had free cooking classes (outside of classes for credit) and free mental health services which was a huge bonus. Overall, I had a really great experience!

Going abroad with Florence API and studying at Lorenzo D'Medici was the best decision I've ever made. I met amazing new people, saw some of the greatest sights I've ever seen, and learned so much more about my family's heritage. I've made friendships that will last a lifetime. Going abroad has also led me to API ambassadors, a leadership program where I get to talk and inspire others to follow in my footsteps. Going abroad gave me everything I didn't know I needed until I experienced it first hand.