Amazing Eurotrip all done in 1 Month Past Review
By A student (California State Polytechnic University, Pomona) - abroad from 07/02/2015 to 07/31/2015 with
European Study Center: Heidelberg - Summer Program in the EU
I gained knowledge of proper German etiquette and culture. I learned rich history from not just Heidelberg, but from many other places in Germany from the excursion trips. I made plenty of wonderful and awesome friends that I would hate if I'd lost contact with in the future. This trip was entirely worthwhile, even struggling through the harsh coursework in this program.
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. |
The professors are full of knowledge about each of the specific subjects that they teach. Unfortunately, they crammed assignments throughout the one month stay for our program making it hard to entirely enjoy Heidelberg and it's other excursions during the trip. While it's understandable that the workload is to be expected since it is still an academic based program, it was very unreasonable to assign highly intense coursework that would be normal for a class back in it's home base than it would be for studying aboard classes. Many students stressed out dearly when they should be able to enjoy their time experiencing a whole different culture in a foreign place. Many weekends were spent traveling, but also worrying about their overly critically analyzed papers being due the morning right after. If students are to immerse themselves in a different culture through a studying aboard experience, then the workload should not be piled onto them making for a stressful time instead of it being much more enjoyable than it could have been. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
All of the staff at the ESC were very patient, friendly, and helpful throughout our entire stay. They are always willing to offer any type of assistance, even translating our menus for us at restaurants without any sign of annoyance. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The single dorm room that I stayed in was well kept and comfortable. The only problem was that my room was spider invested when I first arrived and I had to hold onto dear life to kill at least six spiders that night. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Although customer service in restaurants and department stores are vastly different compared to America, many local Germans were happy to help you at a local marketplace if you had a hard time trying to figure out what an item is. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Almost my entire class aboard the program was sick at some point during the program. I was fine the entire time, but many of the others were in poor health conditions due to sinus infections, the common cold, or a sore throat. |
| * Safety: |
Other than watching out for the bikers in the bike lane, Heidelberg is a fairly safe place to roam around in, even if you are alone. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Expenses here were not too bad unless you decide to eat out almost every day and buy plenty of items and clothing in Bismarcplatz during free time. |
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? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Intermediate Japanese |
| 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? | Whenever you order food at any restaurant, it's always good practice to speak some German since most of the waiters/waitresses are able to speak english, so they can help translate for you when you need help. |
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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| * 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 how horrible the classes were going to be before joining this program. Studying abroad classes are not supposed to be the same as taking a high level college course back in your home institution, especially when only such a short amount of time is given to the students to complete each different assignment. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
