Beautiful, Rewarding, Unforgettable Experience Past Review
By A student (Accounting, West Chester University of Pennsylvania) - abroad from 05/28/2015 to 06/28/2015 with
European Study Center: Heidelberg - Summer Program in the EU
Gained an appreciation for other cultures. Germany has so much more history compared to the US. Learned so much from the other American students, who had interesting lives in the US and various backgrounds , yet we all bonded and had a lot in common. Also gained independence and confidence by adapting to new (and sometimes unknown) situations.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Professors tried to take it easy in the summer program. Still learned a lot. Smaller class sizes were engaging. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Dorm style, most rooms are singles. The bathrooms are cleaned daily. A bunch of different cool spots around the building to hang out! Kitchen and appliances were adequate. |
| * Food: |
The few meals the ESC provided served as good introductions to traditional German meals and local cuisine. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The ESC notified us of planned tours and local festivities. Students should take the initiative to immerse themselves in culture though, using the ESC as guidance. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Never any safety-related incidents during my stay. Overall safety in Heidelberg is high, never once did I feel uncomfortable. |
| 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? | 100+ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you want to save, prepare your meals in the ESC. I spent 100+ by eating out several times a week. Eating at restaurants, alcohol at bars/restaurants, souvenirs, and additional weekend trips if you plan any is where spending adds up. |
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? | None |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | You can get by without prior experience or taking German classes. Most people in Heidelberg speak English. However, I wish I had taken the German class to enhance my experience. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 0 |
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? | There is a variety of people in Heidelberg. Some locals will be glad to talk, some would rather not be bothered by Americans. There are tourists and university students from all over. Weather can be unpredictable during Summer I. Week One was very very hot. Every other week I wore jeans every day. Rained a couple times. Very comfortable temperatures, though. Locals dress fashionably, in a casual way. Wish I had made friends with locals, but sometimes the language barrier and often my own shyness in this new situation held me back. Made very close friends with the other American students, however! Hair heat tools (hair dryer, straightener) do not work well in the ESC, even with a step-up/down transformer. If you like to do your hair, just purchase these items in Heidelberg, they aren't too pricey. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
