Life in Mannheim Past Review
By A student (Information Design & Corporate Communication, Bentley University) - abroad from 08/28/2012 to 12/22/2012 with
University of Mannheim: Mannheim - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I would highly recommend studying abroad to anyone-- I learned so much about Germany, Europe, and myself by participating in this program.
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. |
Very different class structure from Bentley; tough in a different way. You must be a self-motivating learner to be successful on the final exams. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Sometimes challenging to figure out the right person to contact/language barriers. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Very cheap but some issues. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
N/A |
| * Safety: |
Felt extremely safe and comfortable in Mannheim. |
| 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) |
Food is generally cheap, spent majority of budget on travel. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100 euro |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | The biggest expense is travel- look into various options such as renting a car, train passes, and discount airlines. |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | No prior knowledge of German |
| 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? | If you have poor pronunciation, Germans will NOT understand you. |
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? | To be more prepared for the culture shock. |
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 NetworkerAn active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume. |
