Amazing Academic Experience at the ESC Past Review
By Christine S (Environmental Science, University of the Incarnate Word) - abroad from 01/04/2013 to 05/04/2013 with
European Study Center: Heidelberg - Study Abroad in the EU
I gained so much more knowledge and independence. If you are thinking about studying abroad, just go for it, it's life changing.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The ESC provides a wonderful learning atmosphere where students can focus on academics and culture. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Anni, the program manager, is wonderful to all the students. She does her best to make sure all expectations are being met and she's always there to help. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
This rooms at the ESC are nice and cozy. All the rooms have a good size closet, desk area, and a great view of Heidelberg. |
| * Food: |
Here the students do thier own cooking and the kitchen is big with all the stuff you need to cook. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Everyday more and more I feel like I'm appreciating the German Culture more and more, thanks in part to the excursions and everyday life. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The health care here has been amazing. I was feeling ill and the doctor is less than 2 minutes away walking distance and they treat you so well there at that doctor's office. The wait time is also shorter than the wait time back in the US. |
| * Safety: |
Heidelberg is one of the safest cities I've ever been to. I feel that if I'm out late and I'm in a good proximity to walk back home, I can due to the fact that I feel safe. |
| 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) |
I found it very easy to like on a student budget. I only tried to spend 50 euros a week. It helps if you don't drink! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50 Euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would say if you don't have to always have an alcohol beverage skip it, carry a water bottle, always carry a reusable bag, recycle your bottles and get the deposit from the store, and look for weekly sale items at the grocery store. |
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 |
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| 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? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | N/A |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | I didn't have to take the foreign language but I know the German Reveiw helps most of the students enrolled in German. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew of the program a bit sooner, I could have appllied for more scholarships and grants. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Business and Professional Communication |
| Course Department: | Business Management |
| Instructor: | Dr. David G. Vequist IV |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This was a great class! The professor was always well-prepared and he used many real world experiences to help us understand business communication and he also used our excursions as part of the curriculum. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | This credit will automatically count for an upper level BMGT course. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Organizational Behavior |
| Course Department: | Business Management |
| Instructor: | Dr. David G. Vequist IV |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This is an awesome class to take and you learn so much about the different work environments and dynamics. The professor was always well prepared and always encouraged us to find out more information about the local German companies. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | This class will automatically transfer as an upper-level BMGT course |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Experiential Learning |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Anni Taylor & Thomas Leibrecht |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This class is great because this is where we get all of the most up-to-date information about our study abroad program. The professors are always prepared for class and they really care about what we want out of this program. The weekly papers are great because we will be able to look back on them and remember exactly what it was like studying abroad in Germany. I also love the fact that we are required to do two presentations throughout the semester, we get feedback from both the professors and classmates and it helps us become more smooth in our presenting skills. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | This is a mandatory class and it should count at least as an elective at the home university |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Medical Tourism |
| Course Department: | Business Management |
| Instructor: | Dr. David G. Vequist IV |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This class was incredibly interesting. No where else in the world are we getting a well known premier academic researcher in Medical Tourism teach this class. The professor challenges us to think about the changes in health care, future trends, and the travel aspects of medical tourism. The professor is very passionate in this area and was always well-prepared. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | This is an upper-level BMGT course, it will transfer |
