Fritz Loracle '25, a Finance and International Business major with a minor in Management Information Systems, was a 2022 Recipient of the Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship to support his terms studying abroad  at the Berlin School of Economics and Law in Germany.

"When I first chose Berlin as a destination, what intrigued me the most was its captivating war history," writes Fritz. "The city boasts a wealth of World War II monuments that have stood the test of time despite the destruction it faced."

Though Fritz was excited about studying abroad, he admits he had some initial reservations. "I was worried about being away from home for too long and feeling homesick. I wanted to make sure that I always stay connected with my family and friends during my time abroad. I also wanted to make sure I didn't fall behind on my studies, especially because of the differences in the academic schedule between my home university and the one I would be attending abroad. But despite these initial reservations, I was eager to embark on this new adventure and see what experiences lay ahead."

"Some of the highlights of my time studying abroad include my trip to Oktoberfest in Munich and me visiting 8 different countries throughout Europe. I am a huge football fan (soccer for the US), therefore visiting Camp Nu and going to one football game in Berlin was the biggest highlight for the 8-year-old me that has always dreamed to visit the stadium of my favorite football club. I have also visited many other monuments and sights such as the Eiffel Tower, the Ann Frank House, the Sagrada Familia in Spain, and the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna."

Of course, studying abroad was not without its challenges. "Studying abroad was an experience unlike any other. I had to navigate cultural differences, as well as adapt to a new social environment and academic system. One of the biggest challenges was balancing my time between schoolwork and extracurricular activities such as traveling and going out with friends, but I managed to balance both effectively.

"From an academic perspective, the semester system at my host university was quite different from what I was used to back home. I was accustomed to a quarter system with midterm exams, but here, there was a sixteen-week term with a final exam that would cover the entire course. It was a bit overwhelming, and I struggled to keep up at first, but I was determined to make the most of this opportunity and succeeded in the end.

"Also, staying in touch with my family back home was difficult due to the time difference, but luckily, I was able to find ways to stay connected with them via email or phone calls during their off hours."

The Berlin School of Economics and Law, one of Drexel's most highly ranked international partners, offers Business & Entrepreneurship students the opportunity to spend 2 terms living and studying in Germany's capital city. "My experience in [Berlin] was full of surprises," writes Fritz. "The first one was the number of places that only accepted cash payments. It was quite inconvenient for me during the initial weeks, but I eventually adapted. The second surprise was that tipping in Berlin and most other European cities were uncommon; it wasn't expected to tip restaurant workers. However, I did come across a few rare cases where restaurants would ask if I wanted to add a tip after finding out that I was from the US. One thing that really fascinated me was the public transportation system: it was incredibly convenient to travel between cities and even countries because it involved trains and buses. The experience of hopping on a train and exploring a new place had been wonderful!"

Some other tips, he adds: "Take advantage of the many student discounts while traveling abroad. Make sure you set a budget for yourself and stick to it. Be aware of many scams in different cities throughout Europe. Keep some form of identification with you everywhere you go - pro tip: get yourself a passport card in addition to your normal passport if you are a US citizen."

Understandably, students can often shy away from study abroad due to both the real and perceived costs. Though the Foundation for Education Abroad is not affiliated with Drexel, a number of our students have gone on to receive grants from their organization, as through a number of external organizations like the Gilman Scholarship or DAAD. "The scholarship that I have received from the FEA has greatly helped with covering the entirety of my abroad experience. I was also awarded a grant from the Berlin School of Economics and Law in collaboration with DAAD. Both financial supports have helped me not only achieved my dream of studying abroad but also traveling many other countries throughout Europe and experience their various culture."

When asked what Fritz would tell a student on the fence about studying abroad, he answered: "If you are a student who is on the fence about studying abroad, I hope this advice will help you make the most of your experience. My biggest piece of advice is to keep an open mind and embrace all that comes your way. One of the best things about studying abroad is meeting new people from around the world and getting to know their culture. You'll learn so much just by immersing yourself in their way of life! So go ahead and take that leap of faith - you won't regret it for a second!"

Interested in learning more about scholarship opportunities or studying abroad in Germany? Click on the links to find out.

​All photos courtesy of Fritz Loracle.​