The highlight of my College carer. Past Review
By Thad B (Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin - Platteville) - abroad from 03/01/2015 to 07/24/2015 with
Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences: Darmstadt - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Travel experience, interesting/ diverse friends, a new perspective, and great memories. It was definitely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I took masters courses in Electrical Engineering because the were in English, so naturally they were difficult. I also took an internal combustion engines course in German which was also difficult. The grading system was also very different (only labs and the final exam counted for your grade) which made things interesting. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were very helpful and kind when I had questions, problems, or issues. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
They were renovating the housing building by building and mine wasn't renovated yet. The condition of the room was sub-par, and the staff was not helpful when i had questions about rent or the lease, and took a long time when there were problems. The rent was also a little higher than it should have been for the conditions of the room (in my opinion). |
| * Food: |
Germany has Amazing food, a lot of meat and potatoes kinds of dishes. One important thing to remember is at restaurants sauerkraut may be considered a side dish, not a condiment, keep that in mind when ordering. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Every event and place I went I felt right at home, after a short period of adjustment. The only thing I never got over was the awe of the historical places I visited and the rich history that permeates everything in Germany. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have any health issues in Germany. |
| * Safety: |
Even the bigger towns or smaller cities of Germany have a small town feel to them (in my opinion), and I felt safe even walking across my host city at 2AM. Keep your wits about you when traveling though, especially in Milan Italy from my experience. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I love Germany and Darmstadt, I probably would have taken less intense courses though. |
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) |
I didn't keep exact details, but I spent just about as much as I would have at my home University, maybe a little more due to traveling around a bit. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
I took one of my courses in German, but if I hadn't taken that course and had wanted to I could have gotten by with only a small amount of effort. |
| 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? | I was only one course away from earning my minor in German |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | If you plan on taking a course in the language try to find a dictionary/ book with translations for your specific area of study. Small pocket sized dictionaries and phrase books are life savers. |
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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| 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? |
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