University of Wisconsin–Madison

Germany: Emmaly Bertges

Program: CIEE Berlin Open Campus, Fall

Emmaly’s Major: Genetics and Genomics

Emmaly standing outside the modern metal and glass dome of the Reichstag Building on a sunny day.
A day exploring Berlin brought us to the beautiful Reichstag Building!

How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?

At CIEE Berlin all of the classes I took were taught in English with other American students. My teachers were from a range of countries including Italy and Egypt. Different to classes at Madison, my largest class size was 15 people and my smallest was 5. This enabled us to take advantage of our small class to go on excursions where we were able to learn about Berlin first-hand.

My advice to anyone looking into studying abroad with CIEE Berlin Open Campus is to take a look at the classes offered and the internship opportunities. As many of the classes are already pre-approved Madison equivalent courses, it is easy to see what major or certificate requirements they will cover.

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

During my time studying in Berlin, I traveled to many different places. I traveled all around Germany from the Baltic Sea to the Black Forest. I also got the opportunity to travel to other countries including Austria, Hungry, and the Czech Republic. I would have to say that my favorite trip was going to the Ravena Gorge in the Black Forest. We got to take the train through the canyon, did some hiking, and saw a lot of cuckoo clocks.

Emmaly holding up a bowl of spätzle. She is outdoors, with tables behind her.
Of course I had to try some delicious spätzle.

What is your advice for someone considering your program?

My advice to anyone looking into studying abroad with CIEE Berlin Open Campus is to take a look at the classes offered and the internship opportunities. As many of the classes are already pre-approved Madison equivalent courses, it is easy to see what major or certificate requirements they will cover. If you are unsure if a course will count towards your major, you can always reach out to your advisor. A big thing about this program is understanding that you will not be taking classes at a German university. There was not the same cultural integration as there would be if it was an exchange program. Overall it was a wonderful opportunity that I will always remember.