<p>I am a business major at Penn State University with a 3.8 gpa. I am planning on studying with IES in Freiburg, Germany for my fall semester next year and then I am expected to take classes at Albert Ludwigs University. First of all, does anyone know anything about this school? Furthermore, I am a little nervous about taking classes with other German students. My first semester will be spent taking classes in German with other Americans, which should be ok but it is the second semester that scares me. I am nervous about taking classes in German and I have also heard that Germany's educational system is much tougher than in America. I am a very hard worker but I am still nervous. Does anyone have any information about German Universities and just life in Freiburg? I would appreciate it a lot! Danke.</p>
<p>No info about your particular unis. My S studied at Ludwig Maximillian U.in Munich. He got all 1s and 2s. In general, we have heard that they use high school (Gymnasium) to weed out their students, then college tends to be a bit easier. S had to work hard, and study hard, but managed okay. (He went to UPenn.) He had only one class for Americans, which was cake. The others were all Germans. He was the only American in a couple of them, and he thinks that in one class, the prof never even knew.</p>
<p>Assume you speak German? S was a German minor, but his German improved quite a bit coming over here, to the point where people didn't realize he was American. (They may have still thought he was a foreigner, but couldn't tell from where.)</p>
<p>S got a German study partner who wanted to improve her English, and they worked together. Had to write a long paper, and had a German friend proof it. He was randomly assigned into teams in one class, and thought perhaps his partner wasn't thrilled that he was American -- maybe thought he wouldn't pull his own weight. But they divided up responsibilities, and it went fine.</p>
<p>I'm curious -- there is more than one Freiburg in Germany. Are you going to the one in Baden-Wuerttemberg -- near Switzerland?</p>
<p>yes, that one.</p>
<p>Don't think so much about what's going to happen. Yes german classes will be harder, but the thing about classes in germany is that the teacher doesn't take in your homework, unless it is a major paper. They will, however, take in ALL of your test marks, which can be bad if you bomb tests. (This is true for the schools that I know of, many of my friends live/study in germany, so I'm not 100% sure)</p>
<p>Don't stress out about taking classes in german, the profs know that your german probably isn't as great as some other students and will offer help if needed. The profs will try to help out as much as they can, unless your prof just isn't that kind of guy, but then other students will be willing to help you.</p>
<p>Freiburg is a very nice city, and close to tourist attractions in Switzerland and germany(I lived there, and it's worth to check out). Albert Ludwigs University is supposed to be a pretty good school, at least that's what I know.</p>
<p>The students at the school (the german students that is) will probably be willing to help you as much as they can, so just be willing to ask for help.</p>
<p>I hope it helps to ease your jitters, if you wanna know more, send me a PM and I'll talk to some of my friends to find out more for you.</p>
<p>Freiburg is known to be a very good University, especially for Law and Economics, so this shouldn't be a problem. And concerning the grade of difficulty: If you've spent more than a year at a good American U, Germna Universities shouldn't be the problem. I'm not sure, but I think Freiburg puts an emphasis on mathematics in its econ major. Be prepared for that.</p>
<p>Most German students find the work pressure much tougher at American universities--more tasks to be handed in and graded and more reading expected. But Germans tend to have a better level of English than Americans have in German. If you can understand the lectures and the readings you'll be OK.</p>