Studying abroad in Germany allowed me to learn more about cultures and myself Past Review
By karen.hovland18 (BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES., St. Cloud State University) - abroad from 09/04/2012 to 01/07/2013 with
Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences: Ingolstadt - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned so much about myself, my strengths and weaknesses. I learned how independent I am. I traveled to 11 countries in Europe and learned about many different cultures. It was the best experience and I am so I happy I made the choice with this program. I would go back in a heart beat and I hope to visit some friends I made there the next time I go back.
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. |
We had each class once a week for an hour or two. We didn't have any homework or daily assignments. We only had a final presentation or test in each class at the end of the semester. Some of the professors were a little disorganized and didn't communicate that well. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
We had orientation for a week and a half before we started classes. This was a great way to learn more about Germany, our classes, and meet other international students. If we had any questions, we knew where to go. They were always willing to help. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We lived in a flat in either a single or double bedroom. There were 7 bedrooms. It was very nice and a great location. |
| * Food: |
The food in Germany is really good and I had no problem eating the food there. The supermarkets don't have as much of a variety compared to the US, but you can still find what you need. The restaurants also had good food. Sometimes it was hard if you didn't speak German and they didn't have an English menu, but they were always there to help and communicate with you as best they can. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I faced culture shock when I first arrived but got over that quickly and loved Germany. You learn so much about Germany customs when living and studying there. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
We had ISIC cards, so we had health care covered under it. We had a problem at first getting that health care approved in Germany, but they allowed it. I didn't have any health issues |
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe in Germany. You can walk around the city late at night and feel completely safe walking by yourself. Everyone is farely nice even though we were Americans. |
| 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) |
This all depends on what you choose to spend your money on. We went out a lot in the evening to bars and clubs, so a lot of my money was spent there. I also went shopping and traveled a lot. Don't eat out as often and go to the grocery store to save money. Food is fairly cheap there. I don't think I spent over $60 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to spend your money wisely, which can be hard when you're traveling and studying abroad. Don't eat out too much, it's cheaper to go to the grocery store. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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? | 10+ |
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? | -Don't pack as much. I'm a girl and I checked two bags with not too much room left. It was hard bringing everything back with the stuff I bought there. -I had a friend come and visit me over her winter break. We didn't really plan ahead and choose where we wanted to go and our exact plans. SO plan ahead. |
