Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An unforgettable time of my life Past Review

By (The College of New Jersey) - abroad from 01/07/2013 to 05/03/2013 with

European Study Center: Heidelberg - Study Abroad in the EU

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned that living in another country and adjusting to the culture is not as difficult as it may seem. It was worthwhile because I feel more comfortable with the idea of permanently residing in Germany or another country.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The work we are given is in large quantity, but mostly involves writing assignments and small quizzes that are not extremely difficult. If some time and effort is put in I think anyone has the potential to get all a's.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I can't say I have any complaints about the administration. They structure the classes to fit our schedule and are supportive throughout the entire semester.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

The kitchen is always kept very clean

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Very safe city even late at night

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

You can decide for yourself how much you want to spend. If you buy your own groceries, and don't eat out or shop, you can get through the week on 60 euro.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 60-100 euro
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy groceries and cook your own food. Recycle cans and bottles.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • The group of friends I met
  • Structure of classes
  • Very helpful faculty
* What could be improved?
  • Some of the excursions
  • Overlapping of writing assignments
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew before that four months is a lot faster than it may seem. I would have liked to have booked more trips earlier in the semester and stayed in Europe an extra couple of weeks.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.