GO BARBARIANS! Past Review

By (Business Administration Management and Marketing Double Major, University of Maine at Orono) - abroad from 03/10/2014 to 07/25/2014 with

IUBH Campus Studies: Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I think the one thing I will always take with me a new sense of Adventure. Germany had so many places to see and explore, and the country is so old, that it was easy to get excited about the age of things around me. I joined the IUBH Men's Rugby team the Barbarians, and it was one of the best decisions I made when I was there. I learned a new sport, gained a whole bunch of friends, and had the opportunity to represent the school I was studying abroad at!

Review Photos

IUBH School of Business and Management: Bad Honnef and Bad Reichenhall - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo

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.

I think some classes were more demanding than others. The instructors were constantly asking me for the American perspective to the coursework they were instructing.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The International Staff of Ulrike von Aswegen and Manuela Bott were very knowledgeable, and very helpful. Very good at getting back to students and answering questions whether in person or via email.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I paid for a single room. The rooms were over priced, and not worth it. All the dorm rooms do not have WiFi. Each tenant has to purchase a LAN cable to use in their room. IUBH does not inform students that the local government charges a Media usage fee for the internet and cable that comes into your dorm room. The price is roughly 18 Euros per month. The showers in the bathrooms are small. The kitchen is very tiny, with even smaller refrigerators. There is NO microwave in the dorm rooms. The beds are fixed to your study desk. If you are over 6 feet tall ( 180 centimeters), you will be too long for the beds. Laundry was located in the basement of the buildings, and the machines would never fully finish their cycles, so there was always water laying in the machines. The grounds were always unkempt, and

* Food:

There is a campus meal plan, however Exchange students are not required to purchase it. There are 4 locations at IUBH to grab some food to eat. which are only opened for a few hours each. Dallymar (opened in mornings) , Anno and Mensa (lunch time), and after 1600, Charlys (Bar) opens, and you can get frozen food and hotdogs cooked in under 10 minutes. None of the food on IUBH campus is worth purchasing for the price you pay. It is better to shop at a grocery store or go to a restaurant. Refrigerators in the dorm rooms are very small. Grocery stores are NOT open on Sundays. There are plenty of Bakeries, Butchers and grocery shops in the area, as well as many multiple restaurants.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was an English speaking University, however, students group up and socialize with people who speak their native language. IUBH fails Exchange Students but not giving them ENOUGH German language instruction, or Cultural Integration into Germany. They have ample opportunities, but don't take advantage of them.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any problems. I purchased health insurance before going to Germany. However, of the Americans who were there from other US Universities, they simply could walk into a clinic and get what they needed. If you are looking for cold medications or cough drops, there are multiple Apothecaries (Pharmacies) local in Bad Honnef, that you can easily know what you are looking for.

* Safety:

Very safe and secure city. There are a few local Turkish gangs that go into the local bars that Students frequent too, however, they weren't aggressive towards anyone.

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)

1. Depends on what you are spending your money on. There was not much food storage available in your dorm room to keep food. So try to buy nonperishables in bulk. Also depends on if you drink alcohol, and like to go out. Bars do not close, so you can drink at any time during the day.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? IF you eat lunch on campus, plan to spend at least 40-75 Euros for lunches alone. Food and other expenses off campus would be an easy 80-100 Euros depending on what I was buying.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you drink alcohol, set aside additional money for that. It is roughly the same as some parts of the United States after you convert the Euro to a Dollar. Try to buy some non perishable food in bulk so you have more of that, and are going out and spending less money at restaurants or at the grocery store. Because your refrigerators are so small, you cannot put a lot into them.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
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? Beginner
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? Get Rosetta Stone, so you have some Idea before you get there, because your course schedule is not built to provide you additional time to learn the language. Either you understand or you don't. It also makes it easier if you go to a grocery store, or restaurant, so you don't starve.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • N/A
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Meeting new people
  • Learning German
  • Being in Germany
* What could be improved?
  • Having instructors who know what they are teaching
  • More LANGUAGE Integration
  • Central Air in the Buildings!!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Some professors are more strict than others. Some dismiss students if you have tattoos showing even if they are not fully visible. You are expected to dress Business Casual when you attend classes. I think the dress code is too strict for a facility that is not centrally aired. Buildings are too hot, and the walls are boring. Some instructors do not allow you to have breaks during their 3 hour lectures.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

GER 100- German I Beginner's Level

Course Department:
Instructor: Professor Tiziana Stillo
Instruction Language: English/German
Comments: The professor was fantastic! She is very animated, and dedicated to teaching students. She was always prepared. She should teach more classes at IUBH! Consistently available to answer questions, assist with reading, writing, and speech. Always appreciated the contributions to class. Class Grade was 2- 15% Continuous Examinations total worth of 30% of Grade, and the remaining 70% Final Exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

HRM 401- Human Resource Management

Course Department:
Instructor: Professor Dr. Thomas Randhofer
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Professor is very intelligent and knowledgeable. However, he is not a good class room instructor. He has a lot of vast experience which students can learn from. He is easily flustered when students ask him questions, and he doesn't know the answer. You can tell he just making up an answer instead of tabling the answer to another time. Class Grade was 100% Final Exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

MKTSP- Marketing Strategy & Planning

Course Department:
Instructor: Professor Dr. Peter Goffe
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Professor is very intelligent and knowledgeable. However, he is not a good class room instructor. He has a lot of vast experience which students can learn from. He is scatterbrained in class, because he over analyzes the contributions from students, that easily distracts him. Class Grade was 100% Final Exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

MKTCB- Consumer Behavior

Course Department:
Instructor: Professor Dr. Francisco Tigre Moura
Instruction Language: English
Comments: BEST INSTRUCTOR AT IUBH HANDS DOWN!!!! The professor was fantastic! He used a variety of things to teach the class. Very animated, and dedicated to teaching students. He was always prepared. He should teach more classes at IUBH! Appreciated contributions to class. Class Grade was 30% Group Project and 70% Final Exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

ECON 120- Macroeconomics

Course Department:
Instructor: Professor Dr. Michael Grömling
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The professor was fantastic! He used a lot of world news sources for information. Very animated, and dedicated to teaching students. He was always prepared. Tries very hard to get students excited about Economics. He should teach more classes at IUBH! Appreciated contributions to class. Class Grade was 100% Final Exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

ENVM100 Entrepreneurship & New Venture Management

Course Department:
Instructor: Professor Dr. Carl B. Welker.
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The professor was terrible! Would not answer questions, respond to emails. His material did not make sense, and he was always talking about his Pink Floyd tribute band. He should not teach any classes at IUBH! Class Grade was 30 % Continuous Examination, and 70% Final Exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

ORG 120- Organizational Behavior

Course Department:
Instructor: Professor Udi Chadasch
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The professor was fantastic! He used a lot of world news sources for information. Very animated, and dedicated to teaching students. He was always prepared. He should teach more classes at IUBH! Consistently asked what the American perspective was, and appreciated the contributions to class. Class Grade was 100% Final Exam.
Credit Transfer Issues: