Past Review
By Kathryn C (Architecture., The University of Texas at Austin) for
University of Texas - Austin: Munich - Sustainable Architecture and Design in Munich
I now have a much better feel for what sustainability could mean for the rest of the world. Germany has been a great case study in general for my architectural career.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Technical University of Munich (TUM) |
| 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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartment flats some people lived in was called Oskar von Miller Forum near Odeonsplatz U Bahn stop. The building itself, for the people who lived there, was very accommodating and well designed for this type of program. Some others who did not get to live there had a little different experience. <br /><br /> We had to split up half staying in dorm-like housing close to the school and the other half were split up into two separate rented apartment flats. The people living off in the flats had a longer commute, more left out during events, less involved with the rest of the group, and had difficulties doing the basics like laundry. One apartment flat didn't have laundry so we had to find our own way to do it buy either paying extra for a distant laundromat or carry it to the dorms where other people were doing their laundry. |
| * Food: |
The quality of food and prices were all very reasonable on this trip. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There were plenty of field trips and events, like rafting on the Isar, or going to the top of the German Alps. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe as a minority female, even biking or walking home at night alone. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | None. Everything was over estimated so in the end we got to eat at really nice places, I wish I could have saved some money or gotten a refund instead of eating out every chance we got. Other than that, nothing was out of the budget. |
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?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Do it! Students with open mind and seeking to expand his/her horizons beyond America. Sustainability takes on a whole different level of meaning and doing in Germany. |
