Learning things about myself that I never thought would shape me as a person Past Review
By Jessie M (Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology., University of Hartford) - abroad from 09/02/2013 to 02/12/2014 with
University of Freiburg: Freiburg - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was very worthwhile, I learned that I was able to adapt to a completely new situation and live in a place very different from my own. I learned that I can push myself to try and do new things and I gained the experience of a different culture and the cultures of places I traveled too. It wasn't easy and sometimes, especially in the beginning, I wanted to come home. It wasn't as I expected completely and I had challenges, joys and frustrations but in the end I did it, I'm completely glad that I did and I wouldn't change it for the world
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. |
It can be very difficult to find answers to questions here. The classes and the program isn't structured to the way that things are in the US. I overall don't like the German education system and the language problem of taking science classes in German was extremely difficult. I do like the German classes to learn the language that I did take though but overall I wouldn't recommend this type of system as a science major. I took mostly English classes as gen ed's and it can be a huge and stressful change. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Renate Seitz doesn't live in Germany as an on-site administrator but she is a wonderful program advisor from the US and she was always there to answer questions and to help me. She even visits all the students from the exchange program to see how we are all doing. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was a bit odd at first when no one was here because the German semester doesn't start until October but once everyone was here they were helpful, welcoming and it is a very nice environment. |
| * Food: |
The mensa (Commons type) food is nothing really special but the grociers here are very cheap and it is fun to cook your own meals. The local food and other international dishes are also really good. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We did things that a typical German in Freiburg would do, but I thought I could have spoken more German or done more local things in the beginning. Especially seen more of my own region. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
No issues with health care, I enrolled for a mandatory monthly program and had no problems with it because I never needed to use it. |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
It is difficult without a meal plan, you have to buy all your food and cook it or go to the mensa (commons type) to put money on a card. It can get expensive with everything after a while and it is very easy to spend more than you planned especially with meals costing between 5-10 euro out. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50-75 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make sure you keep a budget! It is really important and also remember to carry cash because cards aren't accepted a lot like in the US. Cooking is of course cheaper than eating out and don't spend too much money on alcohol. (that's super easy to do too) |
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 was encouraged to use it in my daily life and in classes that I had in German or about German language, however with most of my friends I didn't use it as much as I could have because most spoke English. I wish we had tried to use the language more but I still gained a lot of knowledge. |
| 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? | University Beginner German (Audit) |
| 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? | Be sure to meet locals, go out to local events and don't be afraid to try in the language even if you aren't proficient. Most people will still understand and offer to help. Obviously don't hang around too many Americans or English speaking students, but that it is easier said that done when sometimes the familiarity is nice. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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 knew more about the German university setting and I wish that I had better prepared myself for the language challenges it presented with. I also wish that I knew how to better manage my finances and information about traveling around Europe that would have been useful at the start. I also wish that I had done more in the beginning and been a bit more outgoing at the start. |
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. |
