Life-changing experience Past Review
By A student (BS Finance, Trinity University) - abroad from 01/12/2012 to 05/18/2012 with
IES Abroad: Vienna - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
I learned how to cook basic things (Austrian), how to dance the waltz, and mainly how to live by myself. I learned how to deal with problems that occur commonly in life and no parents are around to solve them for me... I feel rich with experience of life. It was very much worthwhile!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
There wasn't really an option for family-stay, even though they advertised it. Only 2 out of 107 students were in a home-stay. The rest was apartments, not even student dorms. |
| * Food: |
Awesome food in Austria and Europe in general!!!! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We had to learn how to dance the waltz before being able to attend a Ball, but otherwise the Austrians were very open to US students and international people in general. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I haven't heard a single complaint about health issues in Vienna. Austria has a really good health care system, no need to worry about that. |
| * Safety: |
Vienna was the safest big city I have ever experienced!! There are no "bad" neighborhoods in Vienna. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Although the food is nice, but it is quite expensive. Especially when you want to go eat out. The food was my main expense throughout the semester. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About 100-150 Euros/week.. There are so many things to do, and usually it all costs some money. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cook as much as you can. It is nice to eat out, but cooking in your awesome apartments is the best thing! It saves big money, and it is also very healthy. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
They did a good job on making us use our German skills |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | There was no requirement of any german courses. They offered beginner courses, so no problem there. |
| 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? | Although everybody speaks English in Vienna, just keep trying to ask/answer stuff in German. And watch TV if you have the chance to. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Not be reserved, and be able to initiate contact with other people. And DANCE! |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
