Best Semester Ever Past Review
By Sabah Osmani (University of New Mexico) - abroad from 09/04/2018 to 02/02/2018 with
Karl-Franzens-Universitat Graz: Graz - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I feel more independent than ever. I also really learned the German language, and a lot about Austrian//European culture.
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. |
I was only taking German as foreign language courses, so my course load wasn't too bad. I really enjoyed my courses (they only met once a week, so it took some getting used to) but I felt we got a lot done during class. I had homework and essays due, as well as midterms and finals, but overall I would say I had less work than I usually do in the US. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration is very helpful, but you do have to solve most problems on your own. Make sure to sign up for the buddy program! My buddy was not only one of the best friends I made, but she helped me with almost everything. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I wanted a single room, so I sought out other accommodations than provided by the exchange program. I stayed at Milestone, which is a little more expensive than other housing options, but it was worth it for me. I had my own room, bathroom, and kitchen. |
| * Food: |
I ate at the cafeterias a couple times, but I mainly just cooked at home. I really like the grocery stores there, and you can definitely find everything you need and everything you are used to. The meat is a little expensive, but I would say it was probably good for me to cut down on that a little bit. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I studied German Language/German Studies, so I was somewhat comfortable with the language and I feel like this really helped me integrate. It's Europe, so it's not insanely different, but it's definitely different. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I fortunately did not need any healthcare while I was there. |
| * Safety: |
Graz is amazing and very safe. I lived in the "bad part of town" which is west of the Mur River, but the worst thing that ever happened was some guys intensely starting at me while I was walking past them. I would say practice normal safety precautions (don't go out alone at night, etc.) and you will be fine. It's safer than my hometown in the US. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Graz was perfect for me. I wanted to learn German, to study at an Austrian University, to meet locals, and to experience a new culture, and I feel like I was able to do all of this. |
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) |
It's not hard to live on a student budget at all. But I did spend a lot on experiences. I traveled a lot, so I spent more than I typically would, but that aside, money on food was about the same. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Try to cook at home as much as you can because the restaurants really add up. |
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 |
I definitely spoke more German than English on a daily basis. |
| 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? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300 level courses |
| 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? | You have to force yourself to get out of your comfort zone and speak German. It's so easy to get away with just speaking English, but is that really what you're there to do? People there do speak English, and they will switch to English from German if you come off as uncomfortable or hesitant. So be confident! You know more than you think you do. Ask when you don't understand, and keep speaking in German (even when they answer in English--they'll eventually stop :) ) |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
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? | Honestly everything went perfectly. Get the OBB vorteil card if you will be traveling because it saves you A LOT of money on train travel. Plan ahead as much as you can because it will be worth it. It's easy to just "wing it", and it would be fine if you did, but you can really get a lot out of your experience if you plan ahead (look up the accommodations and the courses). |
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. |
