Mannheim: Intense but worth it! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Heavier workload with stricter teaching methods & grading * Final exams were intense, difficult and requires much more preparation * Much more "theory" focused teaching vs. practical teaching that I like from Pepperdine * German classmates are much more serious about their studies and grades

On-site administration of your program

Strengths: * English skills * Numerous events for exchange students * Quick responses to email inquiries * Some staff were very friendly (while some were not) Weaknesses: * Unfriendly (multiple) school IT systems * Enrollment process was inefficient and confusing. While I proactively had a schedule that I wanted to have, the discussion/case study courses and times were not listed previously on school's website which caused me to change my first choices of classes due to conflict of times. * Would have liked a separate meetings/orientations for masters exchange students. Mannheim had total of 600 exchange students during my semester there and it was chaotic to focus during certain orientation meetings. Would have preferred a little better treatment for lesser masters students (100 out of 600) who may be looking for different experiences than bachelor exchange students.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I subleased a studio from an existing student of Mannheim who was studying abroad in Australia for a semester. I found his apartment information on the University's International Office's site along with numerous other opened apartments. I just reached out to many of the students who listed their place and found one that was right across the street from the campus. Many of the school's housing is not on-campus (as we are used to in the US), and requires 10-30 minute travel via tram, so you may want to check the International Office's site for any studios/apartments for sublease.

The food at school was just okay but was affordable. It tends to be a bit salty...

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Vineyard wine tasting evening at a nearby town with other exchange students.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The school's health insurance only covers students upto age 30. Fortunately, I did not have any health concerns during my time there. The city is safe.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Apartment

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• N/A

• Living in Germany
• Meeting classmates from all over the world.

• Some Mannheim students have a negative image of exchange students (as we are only required to pass the course), so at times, some of the students may not take us seriously.