Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Happiest 3.5 months in my life Past Review

By (Pomona College) - abroad from 09/03/2014 to 12/19/2014 with

IES Abroad: Freiburg - European Union: Politics, Law & Economics

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I absolutely loved my time in the EU program. I had the happiest four months in my life. -TRAVEL Traveling is what first attracted me to the EU program. The program itself took us to 3 different trips and 8 different cities over 3.5 weeks. The trips were very well organized with different activities/lectures to learn about the EU and the local culture. We always got clear schedules, maps, and recommendations for places to visit in each city. I also took several weekends to travel to different countries with my friends. It's just so easy to travel in Europe! -ACADEMICS The classes we had at the center were very well-connected with the things we learnt from traveling. In the end, I was surprised by how much I learnt about the EU in just one semester. Even though traveling and having fun had been my priorities this semester, I still got much out of my classes. Also, the professors were just very interesting people themselves! They came to trips with us and you really got to know some of them well! -LIVE We lived in University of Freiburg student dorms with German students. The dorms were very nice and my room was huge! We had a nice living room/kitchen so I cooked with friends in there a lot. My German suite mates were wonderful people. They were very helpful and great to talk to. We had suite mates dinners and hangouts at the student bar. Freiburg is an amazing city with lots of students and a gorgeous view everywhere you go. You will find great restaurants, shopping malls, bars, and clubs here! -CULTURAL IMMERSION Because the EU program is taught in English, most students don't come knowing German already. We don't have classes in the University of Freiburg or with the German students, which could be a downside to cultural immersion. However, I believe most students didn't choose this program for intensive language training and the program already did its best by arranging us to live with German students. I still had many chances to immerse myself in the culture, just by talking to my professors, local restaurants owners, and exploring the different corners of the city on my own. If you're driven to know more about the culture here, trust me, there will be plenty of opportunities to do so!

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
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Go to cheaper supermarkets! Aldi and Penny are both great.

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? 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? None
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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?
  • Traveling - well organized!
  • Met so many amazing people
  • Location - Freiburg is amazing
* What could be improved?
  • Optional courses to enroll in at the local university
  • Maybe add a cooking lesson?
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Europe is not pickpocket-free. Keep you wallet and passport safe everywhere you go, especially in big cities like Paris and Rome! Only bring with you what you need for the day, nothing more and never put all your valuables together in one place.

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'