An Amazing Life-changing Experience in Vienna! Past Review
By Lisa H (PSYCHOLOGY., Trinity University) for
IES Abroad: Vienna - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
My experience was incredible and worth every penny. I feel so much connected to the world now and to other cultures, I don't feel so wrapped up in my Texas suburb bubble. I was able to study Psychology in an amazing, interactive way, in the city where so many famous psychologists worked and researched. I loved all of my classes and getting to go more in depth in my studies, while also having new cultural experiences. I rediscovered and amplified my passion for psychology and sociology. I also came to understand cultural differences and cultural psychology better. I gained more insight into my identity, and it especially strengthened my faith and beliefs. I made lifelong friends and connected with people in such a deep and meaningful way. The amount of understanding and insight that I obtained from studying abroad are numerous and I find that I continue to discover things that I have learned as time goes on!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload was definitely a lot lighter than my university back home. The teaching method was much more relaxed and not as scheduled as American schools tend to be. We just discussed whatever the professor wanted to discuss. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was very accessible and supportive. They were extremely friendly, knowledgable, and had been working there in Vienna for a very long time so I was confident in their abilities to get things done. They had an online site filled with information, tips, fun events, and things to do around the city. They also had a weekly video blog that would tell us about fun things coming up and different events we could go to. I absolutely adored the administration and my expectations were completely blown away. They provided everything I could ever need and more. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Six of us lived in a big 3 story house in a residential area in Vienna and it was beautiful, safe, and incredible. The commute to class was about 40 minutes though, and we were kind of far away from the inner-city, but that was alright. They provided bedding and cookware for us. |
| * Food: |
The food was amazing. A little fattening maybe, but delicious! Two of my favorite restaurants were 1516 and the 12 Apostles Wine Cellar. They were both close to school and had good typical Austrian food. The heurigens were also wonderful and I would definitely advise going to one in Grinzing and getting Sturm. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I went on 3 trips with my program and they were spectacular. I would definitely advise students to take advantage of these trips because they are a great packaged deal and so much fun. It really helped everyone bond together and become good friends. Also our program always had some sort of social event going on at least once a week, so there were ample opportunities to hang out. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Vienna was a very safe city and I never once felt endangered there. I would travel alone on public transportation and was completely fine. The healthcare was accessible and our program provided good assistance. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | The amount I spent fluctuated per week depending on traveling, but I maybe spent around 70 euros per week? |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | You should cook for yourself instead of eating out at restaurants because that can be pretty expensive. Also buying drinks at a bar can get very expensive so I would advise students to buy alcohol at the grocery store before hand because it is much cheaper. Taxis are also pretty expensive. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I practiced language with my German language buddy that they matched us up with. I also spoke German with the Austrian RA's and other Austrian friends that we made. Most people spoke English but I always tried to speak German with them, and it definitely was helpful to use German in everyday interactions although it wasn't necessary. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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