Students & art in BCB & Berlin made it worthwhile, program is v white+western Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/01/2017 to 12/23/2017 with
Bard College: Berlin - Semester or year at Bard College Berlin
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much from the students I met there and I started building a network in Berlin mostly through my internship. Would do it again because of these friendships and connections.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The suite I was housed in was amazing, dont get me wrong. We had plenty of space, lots of sunlight and we even had a balcony with a garden view. |
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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? |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would do it only because of the people I met and the internship I got to complete; I made deep friendships in a short time and started meeting very interesting people in my field through my internship. |
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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Bi-language IB Diploma in German and English (high school diploma) |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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? | How far it actually is from the city center. My conversations with the Program Coordinator before the semester as well as BCB's promotion of being in the city were a bit misleading in terms of campus location. You will be living and learning on the outskirts of Berlin, and that's fine, you just need to know that. Berlin is a big city and a lot of people are used to long commutes for work/study/entertainment. The difference is that the uni's neighborhood is a lot more residential, has no real hangout ot nightlife scene, so you'll likely want to venture out of Pankow - I recommend that 110%. The nearest subway stop is a 15 min tram ride away and while that technically means you're in the center, this is not where you'll find the young, active and diverse city scene. That is further south. (Although there are interesting areas bordering the Pankow area they are not as well connected via public transport. The fastest place to get to that I perceived as within the active and interesting center would probably be Schoenhauser allee which is around 25 mins away. It will take you an hour if you want to go to places like Kreuzberg or Neukoelln; culturally rich parts of the city, with large immigrant communities and hence amazing history, great events and delicious food. Your best bet is to get a bike!! Will make your life much easier and ake you more mobile. (I have no street cycling experience and it was also too cold for me to bike in the fall, but most people did it!) |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
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