Karlsuhe, the land of construction and travel! Past Review
By A student (German and International Studies, Presbyterian College) - abroad from 03/01/2014 to 07/25/2014 with
Karlsruhe University of Education: Karlsruhe - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned a lot about myself as an individual, my country and my values. The experience was definitely worthwhile and I would do it all again if I had to.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I was able to take a light course load. Also, the class work is less intense in Germany however requiring a grade is a challenge. Receiving a high note here is much more difficult and a direct transfer of grades is not fair to the students. For example, a three here is considered a relatively decent grade while at home that transfers directly as a C. The professors also do not give as many tests or chances to increase your grade. This created a lot of stress for me as a student and unfortunately may lower my overall GPA back home because a note of 1 is really difficult to receive and A's are my average grades back home. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The International Programs Office was always helpful however their availability is not. I know that at my college we always have a way to check in with someone from the office for the internationals. Here if something happened on the weekend chances of having emails checked were slim to none and with the office closed half the day it could be difficult to stop by or make a call. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was not made aware of all the various fees I would be required to pay upon arrival. I only knew of rent and the security deposit. As it turns out there are many other fees to pay and they all vary depending on which dorm you are in and which floor you are housed. |
| * Food: |
The food in the cafeteria is not so great but the food around town and groceries are perfection! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It took about two months before I really started feeling super prepared and integrated. Mostly that comes from having to get used to walking everywhere, remembering your water bottle, grocery bags and such. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Going to a doctor's office was difficult but the hospital system was great. I had to go twice and both times the doctors were friendly. The second time I was in was a more serious issue and I ended up having to stay about four days. The professors at the university were understanding and the doctors were amazing. Most of the time they spoke to me directly in English so that I could understand everything clearly. If they had to say something in German and I could not understand they would find another employee to help explain the situation. It was easy to get the proper healthcare and unlike the American system, I did not have to worry about the giant hospital bill an could simply focus on healing. |
| * Safety: |
I feel completely at ease in Karlsruhe. My biggest advice would be to always know how the roads may change due to construction. As long as you are aware of your surroundings the city is perfectly safe. |
| 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) |
We received a stipend on our trip. By the time rent and insurance was removed it left only twenty euros/week for groceries. Most of the time this was not a problem. The issues arose when the multiple fees were needed in the dorm or you wanted to take a trip that month. You can make it by but it is also important to remember that while Europe may have things closer together than the US it is still expensive to travel. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 20-25 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Always try to plan your month the month before. If you have a trip you want to go one start booking and planning around a month before. Also, eat light. That is, if you take a day trip try to pack your own food because it is cheaper that way. |
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 |
We used German all around town. The problem you would have is people would hear that you are a native English speaker and then want to speak English to you. I also had professors that would encourage me to speak English for my presentations. While this is helpful on some level it also makes me worry more about my grade if I attempt the presentation in German. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | 302 |
| 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? | In my dorm I had a lot of internationals. While they all spoke really good German it was a challenge to understand their various accents. Try and make friends with other Germans. If you know a German speak to them in German. Also I met another American on the trip and we became pretty good friends. That makes a great practice buddy. You might want to try speaking to each other in German instead of your native language. It takes the pressure off always having to be correct in your speaking but you still get to practice. |
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 had known about the multiple fees in the dorm and understood the culture of the dorm a little better. It came as a shock to me and it caused a little annoyance between me and my floormates. |
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. |
