Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Mit Alles bitte Past Review

By (George Washington University) - abroad from 01/10/2017 to 05/09/2018 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I was able to skip an entire year of German after my experience, which was a huge bonus, as well as I got to learn a lot about myself. I learned that I am a very independent person and would definitely be capable of living on my own, and that I love to travel and experience new cultures.

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

Very Helpful!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

After my internship I felt more integrated, but due to the amount of traveling with the program and that you are in a center for all your classes, its harder to get out into 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

I loved the travel, the classes, the location-- Freiburg is definitely my favorite city in the world now, not only because it is so beautiful, but because the people are so kind and welcoming.

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)

It was easy to save money by cooking for yourself as all the housing options had kitchens. But travel expenses add up.

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? Cook at home, and also use goeuro for travelling

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

It depended on what level German class you were in.

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? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 1001 (1 semester)
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? For me, I did an internship that was all in German and that helped me to practice a lot. Its important also to insist on using German in restaurants and stores because a lot of Germans speak English and will want to practice with you or get annoyed at your German skills but its important to not give up.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • N/A
* 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?
  • Location
  • Travel
  • Classes
* What could be improved?
  • Cultural Integration
  • Payment for the Trams
  • More free time in Group Travel
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I'd known about the attendance policies, how the Model EU worked exactly, and how far the dorms were from the center.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!