Study Abroad in Germany: What a Great Experience Past Review

By (Rhodes College) - abroad from 01/09/2018 to 05/08/2018 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to be much more independent doing the simplest of tasks like going to the grocery store.

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

I really liked the traveling component of it and thought it enhanced the classroom experience.

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? $200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you have a kitchen in your housing -- use it! Buying groceries is cheaper than eating out all the time, especially for lunches during the school day.

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

  • Apartment
* 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?
  • International Relations classes
  • Built-in travel
  • Made great friends
* What could be improved?
  • Getting to Freiburg for the first time is difficult and would be better if IES just picked large groups of us up at the Frankfurt airport on arrival day
  • Communication was sometimes lacking
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You won't be as immersed in German culture due to the traveling.