Year in Vienna is for Everyone Past Review
By Dominique G (Art History, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign) - abroad from 08/13/2012 to 05/17/2013 with
IES Abroad: Vienna - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
Specifically from my art history classes I learned a lot, especially about Austrian art and museums. I became a lot more sure of myself and more independent, specifically from traveling alone. I am less of a shy person now, since I was put into a whole new country not knowing anyone, I could not afford to be shy and not go out and meet people.
Review Photos
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 intensity level is much different then american universities. Most of my classes did not have any homework, and your entire grade was based on a midterm and final, or just a final paper. Therefore it is up to the student to do any extra reading, and prepare themselves for the final. I ended up really enjoying my classes, since the independence gave me the ability to really concentrate on class time, since I was not always rushing to do busy work. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I was worried about housing and living abroad before I went, but the program administration made me completely comfortable starting from orientation weekend. I remember I freaked out because I lost my wallet while abroad, and I do not know what I would of done with them. They helped me file a police report for me, and helped me get it back. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Most students lived in apartments, dorms were an option but no one stayed in them. My first apartment was father from the city center, but newer and an Austrian student lived with us. She was really sweet, helped us with homework, and brought us new events hosted around the city. Second semester my apartment was much closer to the city center, and a little older. Both landlords were extremely nice, and bought us anything we needed for the apartment. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It is really up to the students whether they try to culturally integrate, how much students go to local events and try to get involved within the Austrian culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Throughout both semesters I knew a couple of people who had major health problems, and they had excellent service at the hospital, and was easy . Administrators from the program went with them there to help translate. |
| * Safety: |
Vienna has a great overall safety, and there is public transportation throughout the night. I frequently took it at night alone or walked home alone and never had any problems. |
| 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) |
What you have to remember when you go to Vienna is the exchange rate to the american dollar, which was harsh when I went so everything was more expensive. |
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 |
The program did encourage you to speak German, but a lot of it is still up to the student to use it out side of school. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 4 semester of German language in college |
| 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? | Do not be afraid to speak German there even if it is not that good. No one ever made fun of me for trying, and were happy whenever they heard me trying. My Langauge did drastically improve by becoming much more comfortable and willing to communicate in German. |
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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| 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? | I wish I would of practiced my German the summer before I went, such as taking an extra summer school class before the year so my German would be fresh in my mind. I also wish I would of looked up more places around Vienna I wanted to go to, instead of being overwhelmed when I first got there. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
