Very difficult in many ways, but also very eye-opening Past Review
By A student (Business Administration, International Global Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/27/2013 to 07/17/2013 with
IES Abroad: Berlin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I learned a lot about myself, my limits, my goals and the sort of direction I want to try to take my life next.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
|
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were great: always in contact when needed, always willing to help you out |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
At first, my housing placement wasn't that great, but they were actually very good about moving me to another location, which I thought was 10x better. I only wish I knew I could've made the switch earlier. |
| * Food: |
I shopped for my own. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
A little hippier than I prefer... |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have health issues... so n/a |
| * Safety: |
I always felt totally safe-- even safer than the US |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
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) |
Berlin was excellent in terms of costs of living. No problems there |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 50 euros/week or less |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't go out every night for drinks. It adds up fast. Also, Netto will save you lotsss of euros if you grocery shop there. |
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 |
All the time. |
| 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? | intermediate |
| 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? | Try, if you can, to meet Germans (though I had a hard time doing so). Stammtische are a great place to start, though. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew the sort of work my internship ended up being-- otherwise I wouldn't have killed myself trying to balance work and 5 classes. In the end, I don't think it was worth it. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Die Macht des Geldes |
| Course Department: | Econ |
| Instructor: | Ulf Heinsohn |
| Instruction Language: | German |
| Comments: | The professor was excellent and the course material was, given the language barrier, challenging but also incredibly interesting and relevant |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | Hopefully not.. |
