Type of housing: Student Hall

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: Student Hall

Why? It was exactly what I needed, and I had a great time there!

Personal comments:
If you go through the "ÖAD" (Österreichischer Austauschdienst), it is easy and you have to worry about almost nothing, but then make sure you got enough information about the halls you selected, before sending your preferences on their website (http://www.oead.ac.at). From my experience, "Haus Doebling" is really nice (very well located, cheap, clean and great to meet people from all over the world).

Describe host city: Students equally interact with the local and student community

Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment

Activities, Nightlife: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment

Personal comments:
Night spots : Sophien Sale (huuuuuge!), Maria's Roses (nicely decorated with roses), Havana Club (in a palace downtown Vienna), Places not to be missed : Onyx (located in the Haas House, chic and expensive, but you can see famous people from time to time), Sacher Hotel (order the Sacher torte! to get in take the side door...you will be better welcomed than if you get in through the front door) Events not to be missed : university Ball, City Hall Ball (you have to know how to dance the walz) Best cafe : Central Cafe

Course recommendations:
My university basically told me to try and find courses in Vienna that sounded comparable to courses offered at my home university (U of Maryland) which I still needed to take. This didn't really work though- I didn't find too much that was comparable, and if it was, it was very difficult for me as a foreigner to pass (even Austrians struggled to pass these courses). If I had to do it again, I'd go 1-2 weeks before classes to meet people and really research the courses and communicate with home university about what is being offered. I'd visit professors and explain to them that you are an exchange student and get an overview from them about their course.

Personal comments:
My education there was mainly through courses focused at students whose second language is German; otherwise, I found it to be pretty impossible. I would recommend finding as many courses focused at exchange/foreign students and get credits transferred through these. Stay away from courses where you're the only one not from Austria- maybe I'm an exception, but I thought they were pretty freakin hard, and professors didn't cut me much slack for being foreign. I had been told they would- that was not my experience, however.

Language of instruction: German

Main source of funding:
Family

Other sources of funding:
Government assistance

Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience

Personal spending habits:
Food and accomodations in universities in the states are probably the most expensive anywhere- dining hall meal plan is ridiculous in itself, so these things were cheaper in Vienna. Phone bills were of course worse since I had to talk to my mom, whom I'm very close to, internationally (only once a week though). Nightlife was probably more expensive because I simply went out more in Europe than in the states- it was more interesting to me to go out there- movies are also more expensive (not by much though). Travel was of course more expensive because the opportunity to travel to other countries is so available- where would I go in Maryland- Delaware? There is expensive shopping in Vienna- shoes, clothes; so it is possible to make the time hear outrageous if you are shopper. I am not at all so I could be thrifty and happy. I did know some unfortunate souls who couldn't stay away from Mariahilferstrasse (main shopping street) for more than a day. Travel I was thrifty with too- not by choice but because I didn't have cash most of the time to go anywhere. By the way, most people who study abroad do- I didn't know that until my fellow Americans were gone for jaunts to Paris or Amsterdam on a pretty regular basis. God bless you if that's you, but my ass was in Vienna staring at my Bulgarian roommate most of the time- which though difficult at times, made my experience fabulous, much more authentic than if I had all the dough to leave when I wanted.

Travel, Nightlife, Overall, Telephone: was more expensive than at home.

Food: was the same price as at home.

Housing: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
Any doubts I had about being there (I was very scared and doubting in the beginning) were a waste of time, and every moment during that year was worth its weight in gold.

In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.