CIEE College Study Abroad in Berlin, Germany

My time in Berlin, Germany through the CIEE program was incredible. Looking back I wish I could have been there longer than for just one semester. Cherish the time you have there. I would recommend keeping a diary like I did. You will experience so many great things that only a diary can help you keep track of all the amazing little details. Not only is the city perfect for broke college students, but it is the perfect city to live in if you plan on traveling a lot on a budget while studying abroad. Of all the cities that I was able to visit during my time abroad, none will have a place in my heart like Berlin does.

I could not have asked for a better place to spend my semester abroad than in Berlin. The history, the club/social scene, the variety of cuisine, and the public transportation system were all incredible.
To start off this review, I want to express that yes, this will be a scary experience-you're stepping outside of your comfort zone. However, don't let that stop you: the faculty are incredibly supportive and will help you any way they can. If you've been seeing a counselor at your home university, there are English speaking counselors, one of which I saw while abroad. It was a Godsend to have someone to share all the highs and lows of my experience with.
I lived in a homestay, which (as with everything) had its pros and cons. Faculty will warn you about getting caught in the "American Bubble" where you stay in a comfortable space (aka the CIEE building) and don't explore and interact with Berliners. By being in a homestay I prevented getting caught in this American Bubble. However, I do think I missed out on some social perks of staying in a dorm with other students. The dorms are average as far as dorms go; the kitchens are shared, which means they are almost always a mess. As far as academics, the courses I took were interesting and all the professors are incredibly intelligent. One of my professors used to be the director of Doctors Without Borders in Berlin, and he took us to meet with them during one class period! Professors are encouraged to use Wednesday mornings or class time for "academic excursions", which I think added greatly to the class and helped me explore the city of Berlin more. The classes were just challenging enough without impeding on my desire to explore the city outside of class time. The one downside of the academics was the lack of students taking classes taught in German; as a German minor I was excited to take German classes, but many of the courses I wanted to take were cancelled due to low enrollment.
The absolute best part about this program were the weekend trips. There were three total-one for each block-and hotel, breakfast, two meals, and two tours/activities are included in tuition! I know some students opted out of the trip (you always have this option) to travel on their own, which I never understood; a free trip with interesting locations? Sign me up! A word of advice that I'm sure the faculty will also express: spend some weekends in Berlin. As much as you'll want to travel outside of the city, Berlin has so much to offer, and you'll get more out of your experience if you don't go away every weekend. That being said, I really enjoyed meeting some of my friends in Oslo, Norway, and Copenhagen, Denmark, for long weekend trips!
Studying abroad was one of the best choices I made during my undergraduate career. I learned so much more about the German culture and particularly the culture and history of Berlin. Traveling alone made me so much more confident and independent. I caught the "traveling bug" and am looking forward to the next time I travel overseas (because there will be a next time!)

This program was amazing. The staff was there to help whenever you needed it and hey were all so kind. They had ample opportunities for you to experience parts of Berlin, but ayou also had enough time to explore the city with friends. It's located in a perfect part of tthe city where it is very accessible to the Ubahn and various shopsx restaurants and grocery stores. Although you are surrounded by a makority ofther American students, you are so close together that you create a tight knit family.

To imagine that I almost missed out on the study abroad experience...

It was an incredible experience to study abroad in Berlin, the heart of a mix of cultures, acceptance, and history. It was such an incredible place to explore, study, and make new friends that will last a lifetime. Not only did my language skills develop immensely, but my sense of self-identity blossomed in Berlin. I could find anything and everything that was at the heart of my passions, and was surrounded by people who only encouraged me to embrace it. Whether it was something super nerdy like Star Trek or very sporty like fussbal, fellow colleagues, staff, and the local German people supported anything that my heart could desire.

The location of the CIEE Berlin - Open Campus dorms and university and centered in the heart of Kreuzberg, not far from anywhere you would want to go in Berlin -- close to the zoo, the science museum, TWO comic book stores, antique shops, a very large variety of restaurants, and, of course, historical sites that anyone visiting Berlin must see.

Best far the best part of this program were the professors. I always felt I could go to them with anything even if it was something like weekend suggestions. Even professors I didnt have made it a point to learn my name! All of the time I spent doing the outside the classroom activities were my favorite. My favorite was when my advanced German class went to the Turkish market for the day! We were able to work on our skills in a real world setting and I felt accomplished after this experience! Even in non langauge classes were encouraged to go out and engage witht he community which was such a good experience! Overall I loved my time avroad and I can't wait to go back