Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best decision of my undergrad Past Review

By (History of Art and architecture, University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh) - abroad from 06/02/2015 to 07/17/2015 with

IES Abroad: Berlin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I attended community college for 4 years part time before finally transferring to the University of Pittsburgh for my junior year. Since I only had 2 years left at my new school, I wanted to make the best of it and take advantage of every opportunity that presented itself. I chose IES Abroad Berlin because I wanted to practice my German and learn more about German architecture. I learned so much through hands-on activities, field trips, and the wonderful professors who seemed to love what they taught. There were many  opportunities to travel on weekends or just hangout in Berlin and learn more about its history through museums and memorials. For anyone looking to study abroad in Germany, I highly suggest IES Abroad Berlin. There is so much to learn about in that beautiful city and it seemed that even with 8 weeks of classes, I didn't even skim the surface.

Review Photos

IES Abroad: Berlin - IES Abroad in Berlin Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ~$100

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

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? German 2
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The freedom to explore
* What could be improved?
  • No classes on Friday afternoon
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How expensive it would be

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.