Mixed-bag Past Review
By Matthew O (Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics., Western Washington University) - abroad from 10/01/2011 to 09/30/2012 with
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen: Göttingen - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
The inter/cultural component was great and that made any negative aspects tolerable.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 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 |
The International Students Office was well organised and administered. There were lots of events for students and I received plenty of support from the office regarding my visa and residence permit, banking, etc. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The first semester I lived in a flat with three other international students. The flat was large and modern, and was less expensive than its equivalent in my university city. The second semester I lived with a German family (one parent, two children, and one other German university student) in their home. It was a great experience and also inexpensive. |
| * Food: |
I purchased and prepared most meals myself. Food costs were comparable to what I would spend at home. I typically ate lunch in the mensa on campus, which was much less expensive and better quality than the mensa on my home campus. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I had no significant issues with culture shock or integration into the host culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
My home health insurance covered me while studying abroad. However, there was an insurance company that presented during orientation, and I was told that my insurance was insufficient and I would have to take out German health insurance. I later found out this was a scam on unsuspecting international students. I cancelled my policy right away, but I did lose some money. |
| * Safety: |
I felt as safe or safer than I do on, and in the vicinity of, my home campus. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | No |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 60 Euro |
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 |
My native language is English, and the other international students spoke better English than the host language (German), so everyone wanted to speak English with me. I spoke more English than German. |
| 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? | Lower Intermediate German, Mittelstufe 1, B1 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make friends with the natives! If your native language is English, stay clear of the other international students. |
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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| 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? | I study German language, but the German language courses at the host university are not designed for students like me, but rather for foreign students who need to learn conversational German for their own discipline. |
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! |
