Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I <3 Freiburg Past Review

By (Political Science and Government, German, Bates College) - abroad from 09/03/2014 to 12/19/2014 with

IES Abroad: Freiburg - Environmental Studies & Sustainability

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was incredibly worthwhile. I learned to be more independent, learned to travel expertly and to let myself go with the flow more. I also discovered how much fun it can be to speak a foreign language and get to know a foreign culture.

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.

Academics were not too strenuous and professors were extremely flexible and helpful. They were totally understanding of German being students' second language and were genuinely interested in helping us learn German.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff was extremely helpful with any concern or problem students may have. They really wanted to help us integrate ourselves into Freiburg and were great about communication.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The dorms were fine. It was nice to be in an apartment style housing situation, with each bedroom being a single and there being a kitchen for everyone to share. Each dorm was also located in close proximity (with the exception of the dorms in Littenweiler) to Freiburg's city center and the IES Center.

* Food:

We were responsible for cooking all our food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The onus was on us as individuals to try to integrate ourselves into Freiburg but there were ample opportunities to do so.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any health issues, however I know friends who were able to access healthcare very easily and had no issues, and a few that did not have such good or expedient experiences with addressing their issues.

* Safety:

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)

It's not hard to live on a budget if you do not want to travel or eat out a lot.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? On living and food expenses, probably around $125 per week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan out meals for the week on Sunday or Monday so you're not going back to the grocery store each day.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? German 202
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? Try to get to know your roommates and speak the language with them.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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?
  • Freiburg
  • German Language
  • The people
* What could be improved?
  • The length- I felt like it was a little bit short
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How important it is to try to speak German from the beginning, it will vastly help improve your language skills if you start out from the beginning.

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 Adventurer
The 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.