Studying Abroad

[integratedvelocity]

Did any of you study abroad at some point during college? If so, where, when, what, etc.

I'm possibly studying in Munich this summer and want to get an idea of what other people's experiences have been.

[raconteur213]

I graduated from college, and I'm also a veteran. I have spent time in France, Italy, Spain, Germany and The middle east.

That said, I cannot say how important it is for a budding mind to get the foreign perspective. In each country, i was able to live amongst the people and I learned alot more about the world view of American culture versus our perceptions of it.

I would consider the experience invaluable.

[Gabrielle]

I'm studying abroad at the moment, not on an exchange program but as a regular international. Gotta say, it's HARD TO ADJUST! The lecture system, grading system, even the exams are different. Multiple choices are hardly ever seen, and in the UK you basically get one shot for your grade - the end of the year exams. Lectures take up half a day.

So... be well prepared. Your lifestyle will change. in the US they spoonfeed you a lot more... in the UK (sorry, no experience in GErmany) none of that. Lecturers REALLY don't want to be there, and they just blurt out the information and then leave.

[cda]

Oh yeah in Europe, 'THE EXAM' is an understatement. Its ridiculous how much of a grade weight those things take up. In some places, you could probably not show up, not do a damn thing till exam time and if you ace the exam, you could possibly still pass.

[Gabrielle]

Actually, you can not show up for any lectures, show up for the exam, ace it, and get 1st class (the highest honour you can get). My friend did that last year in Physics... unfortunately we medics have to show up for dissections.

[Kotetsu]

I'm at a UK secondary right now. Given the level of spoon-feeding present at my school (a student targeted for As in every other subject was irate at my English teacher for not giving us formulae for producing essays...) I'm really wondering how they are going to get the Degrees they want if they have never had to learn anything for themselves. To be honest, I'm bored with the style of secondary learning ("memorise this load of facts, work out where to regurgitate them in the exam, regurgitate them and ignore the evil problem solving questions which require you to engage your brain; they're only for intellectual elitists") and looking forward to University. I'll be studying some Advanced Highers next year first though because they require independent learning and *gasp* thinking: something which is always exciting.

[thod]

Oh yeah in Europe, 'THE EXAM' is an understatement. Its ridiculous how much of a grade weight those things take up. In some places, you could probably not show up, not do a damn thing till exam time and if you ace the exam, you could possibly still pass

Which is exactly what I did. You have to ask what the point of an education is, its to educate you.

You should not get marks for trying or effort. If you are a dummy that tries hard, then tough. If you are brilliant and can do it with no effort, you pass. If you sit a physics course you either are either able to present the proofs and answer the questions or you cant. There is no room for subjectivity its right or its wrong.

So I can read a physics book and learn in a week what another guy has been struggling with for a year. Do I know less? I stopped attending lectures very early on, I never handed in any assignments because I was never there to get them. I go in and pass all the exams, because I prefer to sit down with a book instead of wasting time in lectures.

Its a competitive system about what you know, not about how hard you work to get there. Once you pass undergraduate level its about you learning alone. You get your PhD because you can learn, the people that can do that at undergraduate level are the stars. Not the ones sitting in lectures.

[Uytuun]

In some places, you could probably not show up, not do a damn thing till exam time and if you ace the exam, you could possibly still pass

It's like that over here, at least in the first 2 years. In my field (linguistics and literature) it wasn't even that bad, we had nice profs that made an effort. For me skipping class wasn't an option because I'm an auditive learner, because it helped me structure my day (I'm prone to lazing about unproductively, which isn't bad per se, but it gets boring/depressing after a while) and because I just don't like the idea of skipping class. But yeah, if people can skip class and ace the exam, good for them. There are too many "averagely gifted, but hard worker" people at uni in my opinion. Thankfully, the past few years have been all about seminars...finally, thinking. It's lovely, there's a ton of interaction and discussion (probably more like the American model) and it's intense and it requires a lot of preparation, but I learn so much more. I could never make the kind of effort I put into my seminar classes for the lecture-learn by hard-final exam system.

[cda]

Replying to Thod:

I agree and disagree. The focus of education should of course be based on what you have learned. The key phrase being 'what you had learned' which would then mean you had to accomplish something in the time frame of the course rather than 'what you already knew'.

On the undergrad level, I do find it appropriate that procedure and discipline should be taken into consideration for grading. After all, with an undergrad degree, you more than likely will be put in a professional position where the master plan is transpired according to somebody else's designs. For that reason, in an undergrad program, I'd find it inappropriate to hand a student a syllabus and be like "See ya at the end of the term, tell me what you come up with".

Post graduate work however I do agree that independence is fundamental since the students need to develop being the sources of information rather than the users of information.

[Homini Lupus]

The real problem in those system is that you can pass the exam by cheating fairly easily. I never found it a cost-effective solution (better to use the time you have to spend to prepare cheating tricks to learn better and get an education) and I have always been to proud to cheat.
It also allows you to prepare exams you can't attend to. And it doesn't mean it's easy, it can take a long preparation and sometimes the exam for those who don't attend lectures is more difficult.

Anyway they just accepted me as an exchange student, so I'll have a way to open my mind!

[NewToWorld]

I studied Spanish in Mexico after I graduated from college in the U.S. After one semester at the University, I dropped out and spent my tuition money starting a store with the maid from a motel where I had stayed. Much better introduction to the local culture and learned a lot of Spanish. Also did a little good, maybe. Never would have learned at the University how to drag a pre-eclamptic, pregnant woman through the Mexican Social Security Medical System

Spending time in any other country doing anything in any language other than your native one will overload your brain at the time and give you ideas to chew on for years afterward.

[True Rune]

I want(REALLY want) to next summer, but chances are finances will be lacking. *sigh*

[integratedvelocity]

So, I am definitely studying in Munich this summer. Anything I should be sure not to miss?

[Tenacious B]

So, I am definitely studying in Munich this summer. Anything I should be sure not to miss?
Rent a car or a bike, and make it a fast one.



I had the opportunity to study at Cambridge the summer between highschool and college. I didn't do it and regret it greatly.

See and do everything you can.

[Introvertguy]

So, I am definitely studying in Munich this summer. Anything I should be sure not to miss?

Nude sunbathing/swimming in the Englischer Garten - try that in most other parts of the world and see how long it takes you to get arrested. The Germans do things differently ;)

[Americano]

I only just started undergrad but I've already lived abroad in Italy and South Korea. Currently I'm planning on studying in Tokyo next spring. Living in other cultures is an invaluable experience. Especially for INTJs; brand new perspectives add so much more to how you analyze things.