Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Freiburg, Germany Past Review

By (Biology & German, Boston College) - abroad from 09/02/2014 to 12/19/2014 with

IES Abroad: Freiburg - Environmental Studies & Sustainability

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My abroad experience was fantastic. I made friends with my German roommates in our student apartment. Class scheduling allowed me to travel on most weekends. The workload in classes was fair and I was able to increase my German speaking, writing, reading and understanding skills. The administration was knowledgeable and efficient. The city of Freiburg was a perfect backdrop for study abroad, as it wasn’t a huge city, but you were able to discover something new every weekend. I was also nice to return to a quieter city after long weekends of travel while bettering your German skills. Put simply, this program was so great; I wish I could have stayed for the entire year.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

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? $75
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eat a lot of pasta, book train tickets early

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? 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? 225
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? Force yourself to speak even if you think you're wrong

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Meeting local students/people
  • Owning a bike to use around the city
  • Balance of quiet/fun Freiburg offered
* What could be improved?
  • Course selection
  • Check out process
  • Some professors were better than others
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish our program had provided us with a semester Straßenbahn ticket.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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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.