Ready to return Past Review
By Jessa (DePauw University) - abroad from 08/31/2018 to 12/15/2018 with
IES Abroad: Freiburg - Environmental Studies & Sustainability
It was definitely worthwhile! I learned about renewable technologies and urban studies, which were fields I wouldn’t have had the time or availability to try at my home institution
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 |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Studying abroad was life changing; not only did it help me become a more capable adult, but the experience also reignited my desire to pursue my academic goals of graduating with an environmental geoscience degree. Being surrounded by people who also shared my passion for the environment gave me hope that together, we can come up with paths for a more sustainable way of life. |
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? | 65 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cook our own meals or have "community dinners" to help save money so that you can later have it as backup if you visit other places. Although, I would recommend always having cash on you! |
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 |
Since the program is taught in English, how much progress you make in the language depends mostly on you. |
| 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? | 300 |
| 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? | Most of the younger population in Freiburg knows English and will want to practice it with you, so don't be afraid to interact with your German roommates and to tell them that you prefer to speak in German. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? |
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 wish I had known that the program doesn't offer 3-day weekends typically, so plan and take advantage of the breaks you do get! Alternatively, having more free time per day means more opportunities to explore the city, so make sure you don't leave with regrets. |
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! |
