Heidelberg Allows Student to Mature on Own While Still Offering a Helping Hand Past Review
By Catherine P (German, Bethany College) for
Heidelberg University: Heidelberg - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I had more of a personal growth from this program due to the nature of having to do a lot of things on my own. I learned that while it is difficult, I am capable of adapting well and I can feed myself. Drinking culture/social culture I found to be very different from those in the United States. I also learned that despite having really enjoyed myself and my overall experience, I'm not sure if I'm as willing to jump on a plane and move there to work. I could spend temporary intervals though, to be sure.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | Goethe Insitute: Berlin |
| 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. |
As an exchange student, my workload was very minimum, as was my class load and participation. This is a good thing, as I would have never been able to keep up due to my lack of fluency in the German language. Classes met once a week for 90 minutes of time. As an American student used to two or three times a week for 50 minutes at a time, this killed me. Especially because the class style is primarily lecture and note-taking, meaning I generally sat there not understanding anything and trying not to fall asleep. I only had this problem with the actual university courses though. The classes designed for international students catered much more to our needs and was more interactive. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
It was a nightmare trying to get registered. There were mix ups about whether I had already paid the caution for my apartment, leaving me with barely any money for about two weeks. No one at the school ever notified me when my paperwork was completed so I could make an appointment to get my visa, which I didn't know how to do either, and someone in the international office was kind enough to set it up for me. Some services went through the University of Heidelberg rather than the Pädagogische Hochschule, so for about three or so weeks I was running around from place to place which were of course open at different hours and I couldn't complete one step without having completed the one before it. VERY bureaucratic. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My dorm was the greatest thing about the program. I shared the apartment with five other people but had my own room located upstairs with two other students and the main kitchen. My room had a balcony that faced the river, and I was only a 15 minute bike ride to the center of the city. |
| * Food: |
You're on your own for cooking food for yourself, and I don't recommend eating out every meal. It's a great experience if it's your first time having to fend for yourself. If living in a dorm like I did, it will most likely be necessary to buy dishes and a few pots and pans or so, unless you are lucky enough to have nice roommates that will let you borrow their stuff provided you wash it after use. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I arranged a couple trips all on my own that I was rather proud of, particularly getting a MITFAHRGELEGENHEIT over the phone in German to Cologne. Heidelberg has a lot of nightlight of offer depending on what you're into. I was a fan of the Indie Disko and the Balkan Disko held at Halle 02 located across the train tracks. Check them out! Heidelberg Castle, the Philosophen Weg, and Thingsstaette are of course culture attractions that are worth the visit. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
I rode my bike everywhere by myself, went out late at night, and never had one incident where I felt creeped out or unsafe. |
| 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) |
|
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Near Heidelberg is an American Military Base, so besides running into many of them on the main street, most Germans spoke English. I made my best efforts to speak in German when in a restaurant, shop, or any other daily interactions. I was able to practice speaking German with my paired university student, but admittedly I was often lazy unless she made me. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would tell anyone interested in the particular program to not stress out too much about the registration process. This is easier said than done, and I might have spent a few nights crying about it, but after it was all said and done, I realized that the class registration really wasn't that important after getting my visa and internet in my room. Any type of student coude benefit from this program because Heidelberg offers a lot of variety. However, the student must be willing to be able to do things on their own. |
