Vienna is a great city, but you need to immerse yourself in it! Past Review
By Andrew P (International Economics/German, Trinity University) - abroad from 08/20/2013 to 05/16/2014 with
IES Abroad: Vienna - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
Vienna is a second home for me now, even if IES wasn't totally the program I was looking for, I still had an amazing time.
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. |
The classes were interesting but very easy for the most part. If you want a challenge take your courses only in german. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was great and did almost everything for the students, which is why I give them only 4.5 because I think they did too much for us rather than letting us figure some things out on our own. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartments provided are pretty fantastic. However, you are living with only other americans for the most part, which contributes to you getting stuck in a little bubble of americans and not getting out to meet locals. |
| * Food: |
Viennese food is amazing. End of Story. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I had previous connections in Austria so I had a leg up in getting acquainted with the local culture. But if you don't have that, it was very difficult with IES to become immersed in Viennese culture i.e. the bubble I mentioned earlier. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The insurance provided basically covers anything, and an IES staff member accompanies you to the hospital at any time of day or night if there is an emergency |
| * Safety: |
Vienna is the safest city I have ever been to. You can walk alone through the poorest area of the city in the dead of night and nothing will happen to you. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
|
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) |
Vienna is an expensive city and I was living off around 150 per week when I was trying to be frugal. 200 is more realistic. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~150 - 250 dollars |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Shop at Hofer and Zielpunkt, not at Billa and Spar. |
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 |
The german classes and teachers were excellent but outside of that there was little incentive for many of us to use German since we were mostly only interacting with each other. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| 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? | German 4300 |
| 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? | Take university courses, take IES courses taught in German, get a language buddy, make Austrian friends. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had known how many of the students choosing the program had little to no german experience, and no desire to learn it. It was frustrating to be surrounded by students who seemed to think learning the language was stupid and a drag. |
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.' |
