Frankfurt am Main was a great place to live, study and make friends! Past Review

By (Apparel Design/ Business, University of Wisconsin - Stout) for

Exchange: Hessen - Hessen-Wisconsin Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Definitley!! I don't want to leave!!!

Review Photos

Exchange: Hessen - Hessen-Wisconsin Exchange Photo Exchange: Hessen - Hessen-Wisconsin Exchange Photo Exchange: Hessen - Hessen-Wisconsin Exchange Photo Exchange: Hessen - Hessen-Wisconsin Exchange Photo Exchange: Hessen - Hessen-Wisconsin Exchange Photo

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: FA Frankfurt am Main
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The facilty involved with the program here in Frankfurt were very helpful and responded quickly to emails.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had the option to find my own housing or have the FA find me something. I had them find me a place in the student dorms.

* Food:

The cafeteria food was very salty but resonably priced and there was plenty of variety.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There is plenty of night life in Frankfurt to experience. I did also take a trip to Munich for october fest and Giessen. In Giessen we walked through an open air museum where they had german houses dating back from the 1600's to 1900's.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I feel pretty safe here. But like any larger city...you shouldn't be out walking alone 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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 60-100euro depending on if I went shoping for clothes or out on the weekends. I spend about 25-35 euros on food each week. I also have a pay-as-you-go cell phone. It's 14cents for international texts or per min. 9 cents with a german number and 4 cents to anyone who had the same carrier. Housing cost was 192 euros a month and health insurance was 65 euros. My gym membership at McFit is 17 euros a month.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? To study abroad in Germany it is required that you have the german equivilant health insurance. Basically you have to get a policy here.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 202, 4th semester german
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

I mostly use english here. The other international students all speak english as well as most germans.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

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

Select all that apply

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? At the FA Frankfurt am Main you need self dicipline. They do not take attendance and the professors put their lecturs notes online. You need to go to the first day of class to get the password for the lecture notes. Then most of the classes just have one final exam in the end. You have one shot to pass.