A personally, but perhaps not academically, rewarding experience Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

As far as Johannes Gutenberg Universität goes, it really doesn't compare with Wellesley in terms of quality or resources. I had a few really nice classes and some not so great ones. One of the hallmarks of the Middlebury in Germany program is the Culture Portfolio course, which I really didn't like. It's largely based off the idea that all people from a certain country behave and are the same way, which ignores the fact that people from the same country can have immensely different lives and personalities. The assignments for this course basically involved regurgitating this information; if you didn't agree or didn't write exactly what they wanted, you'd be told you were wrong and receive a bad grade. They actually wanted me to do this course both semesters I was there, but I only did it the first.

On-site administration of your program

We didn't receive a lot of help during the semester. I only met the director once every two weeks and she never really asked about how my classes were going or anything. I also felt that many of my questions or things that I needed help with were quite dismissively or irritatedly received. Each semester I had a tutor from the program with whom I met weekly and who corrected my papers. The tutor first semester was rude, dismissive, patronizing, and generally unhelpful, which really didn't help the experience. I had a different tutor the next semester who was wonderful.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a kind of apartment-style student dorm with three roommates (we all had our own bedroom and bathroom), but shared a kitchen. It was fine. Rather expensive, but at least it was near the university and it was an easy way to interact with Germans.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The program didn't really help me with health issues (aside from arranging health insurance), but I never really asked either. I did, however, visit the doctor a few times and as a general tip, I would recommend to pay medical bills yourself and then send them to your insurance company for reimbursement, or else you could get slapped with late fees!

In my experience, Mainz is a relatively safe city. I didn't personally experience or witness any crime (although I know things like thefts on campus sometimes happened), and as a female I felt pretty safe in Mainz (it was not always so in neighboring cities, however).

Program administration and structure, as well as the host university

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I had a loose budget of 30 Euros per week, and often I spent less than that. But that really depends on what you eat and buy, what you do, where you go, and so on. Also, there may be unanticipated expenses you need to take care of, for example getting an electronic device repaired or buying medicine.

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

We had a language pledge, according to which we were supposedly meant to use the language at all times, including for all our major assignments (like final papers); however, there were times when even with the director and tutors we would speak English instead. Also, we had a certain weekly assignment which I used to write in German for practice, knowing that we were allowed to use English, but then the director seemed to want me to write it only in English.

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• Dorm

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• Local Students

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• Local Students
• International Students

• They organized housing, health insurance, registration in the city and for courses, etc.

• Language Pledge and Culture Portfolio course
• Administration

The Academic or Linguist