Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best place to learn about the EU and close to many European cultures! Past Review

By (University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee) - abroad from 01/05/2020 to 05/17/2010 with

CEPA Foundation: Strasbourg - EU Studies Semester Abroad Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was a ideal setting to learn and experience French culture, close to Germany and other countries as well. It was an interesting experience to view the lifestyles of another culture over a long time and see what parts of your life that you never thought about might be able to be changed or improved by thinking about it differently.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Easy classes, mostly discussion based with a big emphasis on group projects.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The schedule is pretty confusing, but the coordinator is very helpful and easily accessible when you need help.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Room and amenities were pretty nice and the kitchen has almost everything you will need. Beautiful location and buildings with a park literally in the backyard.

* Food:

Food is delicious! It can be a bit expensive but if you shop in Germany (a free tram ride over the river) at Aldi, you will be able to save on groceries.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was nice to shop at the local mart and downtown shops, but the château is fairly secluded so you will have to actively seek out connections if you want to meet people.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

N/A

* Safety:

Never really felt unsafe. Most of the streets are well lit and if you go with a group there will likely be no issues

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

My goal was to learn about Europe, the EU, and practice French. This program exceeded my expectations in nearly every aspect. I would have liked to use French more but it was still beneficial to be here and absorb.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Food is expensive but there is little else that is necessary to buy but travel costs have been the biggest part of the budget.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50-$70/week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Use Omio.com for finding cheap travel options. Sometimes renting a car and splitting the cost is the cheapest option (and driving here really isn’t too much more stressful than driving in a typical American city) Make your own food and you will save a lot of money.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Not much active encouragement to use french, but our coordinator and and other staff were always willing to help with tips and conversational practice.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? French - 203
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Make friends at the university. Use the app HelloTalk. Practice with your coordinator if they’re willing to work with you. Watch Netflix in French with English subtitles and also in English with French subtitles.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The CEPA itinerary was fantastic.
  • The size and feel of the city is perfect. Not too big and still large enough to have everything you need
* What could be improved?
  • The WiFi is generally pretty poor so you will probably have to get a French SIM card and use a hotspot.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? There is a home stay option. You will always need more money than you think you will need. Don’t overpack. You will want to buy stuff when you get here anyways.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!