Paderborn: My New Home Past Review
By Tyler F (German, Illinois State University) for
Paderborn University: Paderborn - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Definitely! I'm still considering the possibility of going back to Paderborn next year either for studies for work.
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. |
Advisement got a bit confusing at times, though I suppose that is to be expected when studying abroad. Overall I had a great time and the staff at Uni Paderborn were very accommodating whenever I had questions or issues. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Quality education, great professors, though not as much face to face out of class interaction as I'm used to. Many cultural opportunities outside of class, and the semester ticket allows for flexible travel. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Had to buy sheets and pillows, but aside from that the dorm was completely furnished. My only complaint is that all three of my roommates were from China and, as a result, there was a lack of diversity in our dorm, made worse by the fact that they had a difficult time communicating in both German and English. It would be better to mix students up a bit more to make things a bit more diverse. |
| * Food: |
I generally cooked my own food at home, though the Mensa (even though it does get crowded) does have some great food as well for cheap. |
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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? |
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| * Safety: |
I purchased public health insurance in Germany and used it often when I was sick. Never really had any problems with safety! |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Generally around 50 Euro a week for food. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Can't think of any. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Keep an open mind, get out of your comfort zone and don't waste any time sitting around! |
