<p>Hi, I'm currently a freshman in high school and am interested in attending a German University. I want to become an electrical engineer. Is this a good idea? If so, what will I need to do to prepare? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>It will be a great experience, but you’ll need a lot of money plus fluency in German. Most Germans, especially younger ones, do speak English but you’ll need to speak the local language fluently.</p>
<p>You’ll probably struggle to find a job in the US. EE degrees are standardized by a group called ABET in the US and it is strong bet the German programs don’t match the US requirements.</p>
<p>Oh, I forget to mention. I would plan on living and working there afterwords.</p>
<p>You better start working on your German. If you can pass their German language test you can go to college there for free. Be aware the test is very, very difficult. If you want to go to Germany for college and work there then there is nothing wrong with that. Make sure to discuss it with your family though, and be aware your degree might not be useful if you ever want to return to the US to work.</p>
<p>If you do not have an EC passport, you had best investigate the work restrictions for international employees in Germany. You might not be able to get a job there after you finish your education. Contact the closest German Consulate, and make an appointment with the Education Officer. That person should be able to help you find out about German universities and employment after graduation.</p>
<p>why wouldn’t u just study abroad there? or work there after grad.</p>
<p>“It will be a great experience, but you’ll need a lot of money plus fluency in German. Most Germans, especially younger ones, do speak English but you’ll need to speak the local language fluently.”</p>
<p>Why would you need a lot of money? German universities (the public ones at least, which comprise the best ones anyway) are all free.</p>
<p>As for fluency, yes, you’ll need to prove C1 German, which is probably comparable to the standard you will reach at the end of the second/third year of an Ivy as a German major/minor.</p>
<p>Heey ethans15
I am from Germany and maybe I can help you 
Public German universities are not allowed to require money anymore (only about $150 per semster, but this money is for administrative charges…) and public universities are better than private ones.
The living expenses really depend in which city you want to study. Munich is quite expensive, probably $800 for a small flat per month.
Keep in mind only very few universities offer housing! Therefore, be prepared that you have to rent a flat. </p>
<p>Sure you should speak German but some universities offer degrees in English. Maybe you could start with that and enroll in “German as a second language” courses, so the language shouldn’t be the biggest problem. And you will learn it quickly when you have to speak it in your daily life. </p>
<p>What can I say, I am not a fan of German universities. If you want an American school spirit, varsity teams, hundreds of clubs and activities - stay in the US. German universities won’t offer you such amazing opportunities. </p>
<p>But if you have any questions about German universities, feel free to ask
Btw, right now Germany needs engineers. But I don’t know how this will be in the future.</p>
<p>I concur with sunny 12. Studying abroad is MUCH less expensive than in the US. The issue is getting admitted as a foreign citizen ( ie. non EU) Not sure how that works . Both my sons are dual US and EU citizens and would have no problem getting accepted, provided their grades are in line with the requirement threshold related to their elected major. One of the huge benefits for US students who seek a top education in Europe is that studends don’t waste another 4 years doing essentially the same stuff than in highschool. The extended libarts approach of the US is foreign to most German Universities , if you seek to become an engineer, doctor, lawyer, or study bus.admin or finance. They consider that a waste of time- and often are correct! The downside is that most public unis are LARGE - but so are many US colleges. AS to languages there are an increasing amount of both public and private unis that offer the full 4 year curriculum in English ( mostly the busniss related programs).
Also disagree with mikemac : If I were a recruiter for say are large company in the US that came across a US citizen who has experienced a solid university education in Europe and who has actually learned a subject specialty ( say intl business or finance) and therefore knows his way around things like balance sheets, busines models, operation research etc. – I would probably take him over a kid from Harvard that has a great libart background but does not know how to define “cash flow” from a balance sheet and a P&L statement. Times are changing - big time. Intl experience counts!</p>