An Experience Everyone Should Experience Past Review
By A student (PSYCHOLOGY., Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/28/2013 to 12/23/2012 with
Constructor University: Bremen - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I feel like a more competent person. I was able to travel around Europe on my own or in a small group without always having phone/internet access. I am much better at reading maps and my German and French have improved. I met some incredible people that I don't think I would have met otherwise.
Review Photos
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. |
If I was a science or math major, I would list all 5 stars. Those students work HARD. I gave this rating 3 stars because the psychology work is really not very much at all- if it wasn't for my intensive independent research study that Wellesley gave me the opportunity to do, I probably would have only given two stars. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Abroad office was very kind and helpful! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
SO CLEAN AND SPACIOUS. Thank you, Jacobs! =) |
| * Food: |
Typical college food- not great nor terrible. |
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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? |
In the future, options should perhaps be explained before the study abroad students' arrivals. It was an extra thing to have to have to research, meet about, and take care of when there... |
| * Safety: |
Traveling in small groups is always recommended. Bremen is a safe city, but it's still a city with thousands of people. Be smart and have common sense, and try to avoid walking around the scary-looking streets late at night... |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
I wanted to travel a lot and shop a lot, so I went a little over! |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 5-10 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Definitely give yourself a monthly budget, and expect to allocate that budget largely toward a weekend traveling trip you want to take, if that is indeed what you wish to do. |
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 |
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| 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? | I took French for 10 years, and a German intensive course over the summer for 4 weeks. |
| 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? | Don't be afraid to make a fool of yourself- you'll never learn. Throw yourself into the language and learn something new! People are surprisingly helpful and understanding. |
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
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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? | That my cell phone bill would be a couple thousand dollars (OOPS!). I also wish I knew that some specific beers should never ever enter my system...ever. I also wish I knew ahead of time where I would be traveling, but I think at the same time the spontaneity was fun. |
