Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Amazing! Past Review

By (Ithaca College) - abroad from 01/03/2019 to 05/10/2019 with

European Study Center: Heidelberg - Study Abroad in the EU

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to navigate a foreign country on my own, so not only did I become more independent but I also gained more confidence.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The courses offered covered a wide range of topics and were very interesting. The professors were very helpful and genuinely wanted the students to learn and enjoy the class. Classes were offered in a very intimate setting with usually about 5 to 6 students per course.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Germany is beautiful and I recommend everyone to go

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

While Germans have the stereotype of being cold and rude, all the Germans I met were very nice and understanding. They were also very helpful when I was trying to acclimate to German culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

There is a doctor's office right near the ESC and the administration was very helpful in arranging appointments and making sure my needs were met when I was sick

* Safety:

Heidelberg is a very safe environment

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

Heidelberg is in the middle of Europe, which allowed me to travel to multiple other countries with ease.

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)

My experience could be rated as a 3.5. Heidelberg is not the most expensive city compared to other countries. However, it all depends on how much you plan on traveling.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100-300 a week depending on travel
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook as much as you can and find the cheapest housing/transportation

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

4

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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish 3
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Start small by ordering food items in German and eventually try talking to a foreign student in German

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

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Freedom to travel
  • Flexibility of schedule
* What could be improved?
  • Housing conditions
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how to budget better

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 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.