Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Vienna has become my home away from home Past Review

By (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 05/26/2017 to 07/07/2017 with

IES Abroad: Vienna - Study Abroad With IES Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely a worthwhile experience! I gained new confidence both in myself as an individual but also in my ability to meet and connect with new people all over the world. I also gained insight into the cultural differences that come with each country I visited.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* 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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eat dinner at home during the week, it adds up quickly if you eat all your meals out. When traveling, take busses when you can and stay in hostels to save some extra money

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? None
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? none
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? Practice with your friends and try to incorporate it into your daily life while abroad. People are pretty understanding and appreciate when you put in the effort.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The staff were so friendly and helpful.
  • The classes were taught in a fun and interesting way.
  • Living in an apartment in a local neighborhood.
* What could be improved?
  • More accessible ways to connect with locals
  • Better timing of classes to avoid some large gaps of time between some classes.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Don't let the first few weeks there go too fast. I was so focused on settling in and adjusting to the new city and way of life that we didn't do very many different things in the first week or two and by the end of the program I wished I had more time. Also, I didn't bring a raincoat and it would have been so nice to have one because umbrellas are not always practical.