Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Lieben Salzburg, Liebes Oesterreich (Lovely Salzburg, Lovely Austria) Past Review

By (Vocal Music, University of Wisconsin - Platteville) for

College Consortium for International Studies (CCIS): Salzburg - Salzburg College

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I understand much more about the Austrian culture, and the overall history of Europe and how that in turn affected music and the arts. I truly enjoyed my time in Austria, even though the first block of the semester was insanely busy.

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I liked that Salzburg University used the American semester calendar. The two-week travel break in October was just awesome. The block scheduling was nice, in a way, although it was frustrating to be taking general classes instead of classes for my major in the first block. There was a lot of busy work involved in a few of the classes that wasn't always necessary. The second block contained my music classes, which I enjoyed very much. My voice teacher was a great match for me--I learned a ton!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The support staff at Salzburg College were excellent; they made the trip very accessible

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Salzburg was extremely safe; the city is beautiful and CLEAN! I enjoyed my dorm--there were some opportunities to get to know the other students living there. Food was not provided on the weekends, which made a dent in my budget, but I enjoyed the flexibility that living there offered.

* Food:

The lunches provided at the college were some of the best I have ever tasted. The dorm food was all right, but it was difficult to get home in time for dinner some nights because it only lasted for half an hour.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The Vienna and Munich field trips were simply incredible! The tours of Salzburg were great, as well as the local attractions we saw together. We also had many in-class field trips that I truly enjoyed. The field trips were the best parts of the program.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Salzburg is a very safe city; watch your wallet, but that's about it.

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

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
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

We took German right away in the first block. I was able to practice with my roommate and my classmates. I used German as much as I could, and by the end, I could speak well enough to give basic directions, ask questions, etc. Most Austrians that I interacted spoke English, but were happy to help me with my German.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Loved the field trips.
  • The accessibility of music both in the program and in Salzburg itself.
  • The city of Salzburg is a great introduction to Austria and Europe.
* What could be improved?
  • Making food available on nights and weekends to the dorm students
  • More music-centered classes
  • The schedule and structure of the first block of classes was too busy.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I would recommend this program to music students who want to study the German language and the classics, especially Mozart and Beethoven. If you choose this program, be prepared for many field trips and opportunities.