Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A very fun and educational program Past Review

By (Grinnell College) - abroad from 01/13/2016 to 05/10/2016 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained much knowledge about the European as well as the countries I visited thanks to the experts/ professors we got to meet at each destination.

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

* 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

My last semester with IES Abroad European Union Program was a life-changing experience. The program was designed in the way that I could make the most out of the cultural experience, such as the notice board is always filled with suggestions for where to travel or what to try locally. Classroom was great, with professors being very knowledgeable about their field and caring much about students' learning as much as possible. What I like most about my program is the field trip part. Because of the nature of our topic, we were taken to many European countries to learn from real life experience. At each country, in addition to having a guided tour to all the attractions, we also got to talk to experts and professors to gain a deep understanding of the country and its role in the EU. I really appreciate that the staff works really hard to make sure everything goes smoothly and accommodates people' needs. Overall, I would highly recommend this program, as I learned so much while having fun and making good friends from all over.

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)

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? Intermediate
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The field trip
* What could be improved?
  • If it is possible to get the semester schedule earlier so the students can plan their personal responsibilities, that would be awesome.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That it will be very worthwhile. I had a hard time preparing for departure and I questioned myself a lot whether I made the right decision to choose this program. If only I had knew it would be this fun, I would have stressed out less.