When a plan comes together Past Review
By Nick Puno (Fordham University) - abroad from 02/02/2016 to 05/21/2016 with
IES Abroad: Berlin - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I first and foremost learned what an interesting and quirky place Germany is. How rich its history is, how cool its culture is, and yet how different it is from the places I've been before. And considering all this, as well as the fact that I am Filipino studying in America, I also learned many hard truths about the complexity of this world. It will take me some time to internalize all this, but once I do, and in fact, even now, I can say it was more than worthwhile.
Review Photos
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This program is very extensive, diverse, enriching, and oh so fun! |
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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50 euro |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Frozen pizzas come in twos and are worth two euro. It is very convenient. |
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? | Native speaker (language different from program language) |
| 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 it out with the locals. Sometimes a barista or a vendor will push you to complete an order in the language. It's very rewarding when you can pull it off. |
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 that for an international student like me, the sooner I apply for a visa, the better, and the later I apply, the more torturous and stressful 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 AdventurerThe 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. |
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