A Life-Changing Experience Past Review
By A student (Art History and German Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/09/2014 to 07/18/2015 with
Wellesley College: Wellesley-in-Berlin
In addition to language skills, I feel that I've gained so much confidence. I had to do so many things (find an apartment, make a budget) which I'd never had to do before.
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes can be great or not depending on which ones you choose - I had classes I loved and got a lot out of and classes that I didn't really learn anything from because the language was too difficult for me to follow. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
First semester I lived in a dorm, which was way out near the edge of the city. It took a while to get anywhere, BUT it was extremely, extremely cheap. I had intended to just stay the full year, but I learned somewhat late that I would only be able to stay for a semester and thus had to scramble to find somewhere else to live. I did find a place, but ended up having to stay in a hotel for a few days between contracts, which was pretty expensive. I would recommend that anyone planning to stay a full year find a room in an apartment (or even a full apartment!). It is stressful finding housing but compared to a lot of American cities Berlin is still rather cheap. And what an experience! Having that adult-esque experience of living on my own and cooking my own meals has, I think, really allowed me to grow and mature. The idea of moving out and having my own place isn't as frightening as it was a year ago because, well, I've done it already! |
* Food: |
I cooked pretty much all of my food myself, but ate lunch in the Mensa on the days I had class. Food in the grocery stores is so, so cheap! You can eat very well for very little money. |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
My family is German so I don't really feel that I experience very much culture shock... I had a pretty easy time adjusting. |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had to go to a specialist at one point, and was able to get an appointment quickly and cheaply. My tutor was able to arrange the appointment for me. |
* Safety: |
I felt safer in Berlin than I do in many cities in the US! Granted, I'm also a blue-eyed blonde and look extremely German. I can only share my own experiences, but I have friends of other ethnicities who didn't feel the same. There are some places way, way out in the East which I've heard have some problems with neo-Nazis, but they are, as I said, way out there. There's no way you'd accidentally end up in one of those neighborhoods. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
* 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) |
Berlin is very, very cheap, especially compared to the US |
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 40-50 Euro for food, alcohol, etc. (and I ate pretty well; i know people who only spent about 20 Euro per week) |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Learn to cook! Your food costs will decrease dramatically. |
Language
* Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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? | Intermediate |
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | A 200 independent study |
How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
* 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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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? | That I'd eventually have to find my own housing |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |