Jacobs University Bremen: International symmetry Past Review
By Amelia M (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Rice University) for
Constructor University: Bremen - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My experience was definitely worthwhile. I have actually changed my mind about what I want to do before graduate school. I want to return to Europe and either study or do independent research or work for a year or two before I attempt to get a PhD.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was very upsetting to wade through additional paperwork to enroll in classes; I thought they might be a bit more understanding of exchange students, but I understand it's a small place with few visitors, so maybe they don't have that precedent. I also realized some classes wouldn't be transferring although I thought they would previously. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
For the most part, the program was well-run, although I rarely met with the program adviser there. I didn't feel like everything was well organized though, and I would have liked more of an introduction to student life and academic resources. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I liked the room I had and the privacy I had (I was the only exchange student in a single apartment), but I would have liked to have someone designated to show me around (perhaps paired by interests or school of study)...instead I had no roommate and no guide, other than an adviser, who, although he was the best adviser ever, wasn't studying the same thing or living in the same place as I was. |
| * Food: |
The food was very satisfactory. If I had to compare it to Rice, I would say there was usually a consistently good choice, as well as many staples. Although the variety was significantly less than in the States, I was pleased and never ran out of food money. I would say it is much harder as a vegetarian, so keep that in mind. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I met people from many countries I had never known were real countries, or if I had heard of them, I had no idea where they are or what they meant. These people have changed my life. There were many intercultural experiences |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The city was quite mellow and safe. Be careful when travelling and don't be lulled into false security even on campus, but if you're reasonable you'll be quite fine with no worries. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~30-50$ depending on travel expenses. Usually to go out on weekends. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | There was an additional fee because my parents paid my housing and dining bill via a money transfer, which is how Jacobs suggested we do it. They should have let us know earlier. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | A student wishing to have a full course load in the sciences in English should consider this program. Same for humanities or social science. In particular, if you don't want to spend a significant portion of your classes taking a language. Anyone wanting to meet people and forge connections with international people in large quantities should consider this program. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Entomology |
| Course Department: | Biology & Neuroscience |
| Instructor: | Dr. Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This class was my favorite course; the intimate lecture style helped me learn better than the theoretical lectures. The subject was also interesting, and made more so by the professor's expertise and passion for it. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | This course transferred for 2.5 credits (technically 1/2 of the 5 European credits) which, although my major department accepted, might not fly for most other departments. Try to figure this out BEFORE you go (talk to the registrar at Jacobs to see if you can up the credits, perhaps contact the proposed professors to see if they mind letting you "do extra work" for the chance to get the full 3 credits back at Rice)... |
