Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Berlin is the best!! Highly recommend October 16, 2022

By (Architecture, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo) - abroad from 01/02/2022 to 05/06/2022 with

CIEE: Berlin - Global Architecture + Design

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Berlin itself was such a special city to experience, filled with creative people and places and a huge variety of parks, clubs, and restaurants. My weekends were filled with checking out huge parks like Tempelhof, trying trendy new coffee shops and stores, and experiencing all the techno clubs. I feel as if I learned so much from experiencing the culture of the city in comparison to American cities. Being an architecture major also gave me the opportunity to take classes focused on the architecture of Berlin, which was a unique and inspiring experience, especially due to the reconstruction of Berlin following the wars. I truly believe there is no better city to learn about urban and sustainable design from. CIEE also gave us many opportunities to visit and learn about other German cities, such as Dresden and Hamburg. These excursions paired with learning German, whether it was the more simple survival German class or the in depth German courses, helped me get a grasp on German culture as a whole.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I got COVID while studying there and they were very kind and accomodating!

* Safety:

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

Studying abroad with CIEE in Berlin was an incredible experience! The school and living spaces are situated in the perfect spot in the city, right in Bergmannkiez of Kreuzberg. The area is lively and beautiful, as well as being a central area in Berlin, making it easy to get on the train and go anywhere. I lived in G.27, specifically the dormitory building, which was a lot nicer than a traditional dorm. The spaces were large and comfortable, including the kitchens and lobby. All of the CIEE staff members were extremely kind and helpful, which is necessary in situations that occur while studying abroad.

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)

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

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

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Learning about my field of study in a different country
  • Ability to experience Berlin culture
  • Location of the school
* What could be improved?
  • Some of the professors could have seemed more interested in our courses
  • The cleanliness of the kitchens in the dorms
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how fun it would be to live in the dorms! I was worried prior to going because I expected them to be smaller and have less amenities. They ended up being much nicer than the dorms at my American school with every floor having a big kitchen and much more space.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.