Couldn't have wished for a better semester of adventure Past Review
By Jenna V (Music Education, Ithaca College) - abroad from 08/21/2013 to 12/21/2013 with
IES Abroad: Vienna - Study Abroad With IES Abroad
It was everything I dreamed it would be and more. I was able to take private trumpet lessons with a legend and master teacher, was constantly inspired by some of the finest musicians in the world on a weekly basis, gained a lot of independence, made new life-long friends, and was able to be the first family member to return to the town where my ancestors came from which was destroyed by Hitler. That experience was not only significant for me but for my family as well. I gained a lot of experience with planning and reaching not only travel plans but life long dreams as well. I learned a new language and how humans can connect when they can barely communicate through language.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I learned a ton, the classes were intriguing, but I still had decent time to study |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff were amazing. Helpful, supportive, and friendly. Of course some things could always be organized better like move-in day when we move from our orientation site to the apartments in the city. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was clean, safe, well-furnished, comfortable, and had two practice rooms for myself and roommates to use at any time. |
| * Food: |
I cooked for myself every day. The food around the city is awesome. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was hard to find the time to have a language buddy or do programs like that to meet locals but I would have appreciated more opportunities set up specifically for immersion throughout the entire semester. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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? | 25-30 euros on food, 50 euros a month on transportation, and about 30-40 euros on phone minutes/txts for the entire semester |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't eat out as much. In Vienna, eating out is 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 |
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| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Three years of french in high school |
| 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? | Practice with your roommates and friends or whoever you live with every day. |
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? | Make every moment worthwhile and don't waste a second of your time because the semester will be over well before you're ready to leave. I wish I had known more about the city/country so that I could have planned ahead |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Gustav Mahler and Turn of the Century Vienna |
| Course Department: | Music |
| Instructor: | Dr. Morten Solvik |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Challenging, made me think about music in ways I never had before. I also learned about Viennese culture and history and got to study my favorite composer in such an in-depth way. The professor is incredibly knowledgeable. Sometimes the course work load was too much but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed the class. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Gustav Mahler and Turn of the Century Vienna |
| Course Department: | Music |
| Instructor: | Dr. Morten Solvik |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Challenging, made me think about music in ways I never had before. I also learned about Viennese culture and history and got to study my favorite composer in such an in-depth way. The professor is incredibly knowledgeable. Sometimes the course work load was too much but other than that I thoroughly enjoyed the class. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
