Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I had the time of my life. Past Review

By (Berea College) - abroad from 08/22/2016 to 12/20/2016 with

Philipps-Universität / University of Marburg: Marburg -International Undergraduate Study Program / IUSP

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to enjoy life to the fullest and always trust my abilities. It was definitely worthwhile. I feel a lot happier and confident now.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My classes were challenging particularly because they were in another language, but overall I still felt that the classes in Berea College are more challenging.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administrators of the program were extremely organized and helpful. I have absolutely no complains.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a dorm and it was usually pretty clean. The rooms were very big and my neighbors were very respectful.

* Food:

I enjoyed trying new dishes and experimenting new things. It was definitely a great and enrishing experience.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My program mainly consisted of American students. Hence, at the beginning it was somewhat hard to integrate with the local culture, but as time went by I started meeting new people and integrating myself more with the local culture. It was more a matter of stepping out of my comfort zone, which I am happy to say I eventually did.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any problems with the healthcare system. I had a very good insurance, which covered absolutely everything. I never had to use it, but I felt safe knowing that it was a good one.

* Safety:

I felt extremely safe throughout the whole semester. However, I was always very cautious and careful and tried to avoid any unsafe situations.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

It was a fantastic program. I learned more than I ever thought I would. I would do it again and again.

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)

The budget I presented was enough to support my semester abroad. However, it was very challenging at first because I did not receive the money until later than I expected.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about $50-$100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try your best to stick to your budget, but don't let that prevent you from enjoying your time abroad.

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

My program did encourage me to use the language. The only problem was that sometimes I was surrounded by Americans.

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 level courses
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? Try your best to get out of your comfort zone and spend time with the locals.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The people
  • The trips
  • Everything!
* What could be improved?
  • The classes could be more challenging
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? If I could do it again, I would travel a lot more and not worry so much about the cost.

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 Linguist
You 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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Migration and Human Development
Course Department: Psychology
Instructor: Professor Martin Pinquart
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Unfortunately, this class was not very challenging, I felt as if the professor did not care enough for the course and did not really teach. The class only consisted of presentations made by students, which was at times interesting but not challenging.
Credit Transfer Issues: