[Valia99]

I am a 3rd year LLB student enrolled on a 4 year programme, with one year abroad (Germany).
It's been several months in my Erasmus experience, and I absolutely hate it, it's a one big distater, from both social and education side.
I do admit that I enrolled on this program ONLY to improve my chances of getting TC, and to have something extra on my CV.
Putting this aside, however, there is something that worries me immensly, namely my grades achived in my 3rd year. So far, I've been getting very mediocrate grades, and I am very worried that this might be an obstacle when applying for TC...

Could you please advice me, whether the firms pay any attention to the grades achieved whilst on Erasmus year ? (This year does not count towards my final grade of LLB, but nevertheless, I am getting some grades, and I'll have to break them down on TC application...)
I should have never done this horrendous experience, but now it's just too late..
Just to point that in my 2nd year I achieved the average of 68%, but now 1st year was pretty mediocrate.

[hedgehogs]

(Original post by Valia99)
I am a 3rd year LLB student enrolled on a 4 year programme, with one year abroad (Germany).
It's been several months in my Erasmus experience, and I absolutely hate it, it's a one big distater, from both social and education side.
I do admit that I enrolled on this program ONLY to improve my chances of getting TC, and to have something extra on my CV.
Putting this aside, however, there is something that worries me immensly, namely my grades achived in my 3rd year. So far, I've been getting very mediocrate grades, and I am very worried that this might be an obstacle when applying for TC...

Could you please advice me, whether the firms pay any attention to the grades achieved whilst on Erasmus year ? (This year does not count towards my final grade of LLB, but nevertheless, I am getting some grades, and I'll have to break them down on TC application...)
I should have never done this horrendous experience, but now it's just too late..
Just to point that in my 2nd year I achieved the average of 68%, but now 1st year was pretty mediocrate.

Hi! I understand how you feel, as I am also on my year abroad at the moment, and it is one of the most difficult things I have ever done. I regretted my decision in the first few months but now I have been abroad for nearly 6 months, I do not regret it at all. To reasure you, all the international students at my university feel the same at some point during the year and you are not alone.

With the grades, I'm not sure how your uni in Germany works, but the uni I am at is very flexible with courses. If you have taken a course and it is not going well, you have the option to change. I think that while firms will take them into account, they will understand that you were on a year abroad and therefore that your results will not be the same as those you obtained in your second year. I have obtained a mixture of results and I think that as long as you are prepared to justify why you got a certain mark in a certain module, your results will not be an obstacle to securing a TC.

In terms of TC apps I think a year abroad does really strengthen your application, I mean you have had an experience that the majority of law students do not have. I also think there is no shame in admitting that you are having a difficult time, but I would really try to focus on the positives you have gained from the experience e.g. language, communication etc.

Hope this helped, stick with it because at the end, chances are you will very glad you did it!

[hingus2000]

Just to add a bit of balance to this thread. I'm currently doing my ERASMUS year and absoluely loving it. One of the best things I have ever done, and all to aware that my final year is going to be a massive anti-climax compared to the fun I've had this year.

Going abroad solely as a means of improving your TC apps though is a bit shortsighted. It is a massive commitment and only suits those who are willing to jump head first into it. I think if you are doing anything really just for the purpose of improving an app to a law firm you are doing it for the wrong reasons - and firms will see through it at interview. You should be doing things you enjoy/find interesting/rewarding, the benefits to your CV should be incidental.

[elin89]

I have to be really unsympathetic with you OP, sorry. An Erasmus year is a massive opportunity, and you went into it for the wrong reasons. if you choose to go somewhere not because you genuinely want to go and live and study there then you probably won't like it.

From experience, the majority of people that don't like years spent abroad either are doing it for the wrong reasons, or don't make enough of an effort. What have you done to integrate yourself with other students? what societies/groups have you joined? if you presume you will have a bad time, or spend every day by yourself, or run off home at every opportunity then you are just dooming yourself to having a bad experience.

Not to sound harsh, but there is usually huge competition to get erasmus places, and so taking a place just to look good on your CV and then not really making the most of it is selfish.

for context - i spent 14 months in russia, completely on my own, without the support that erasmus gives you. I made a huge effort, and had an amazing time. Of course, there were moments when it was a disaster and i wanted to go home, but this was easily outweighed by the good times - all of which were of my own making.

[cactussed]

(Original post by Valia99)
I am a 3rd year LLB student enrolled on a 4 year programme, with one year abroad (Germany).
It's been several months in my Erasmus experience, and I absolutely hate it, it's a one big distater, from both social and education side.
I do admit that I enrolled on this program ONLY to improve my chances of getting TC, and to have something extra on my CV.
Putting this aside, however, there is something that worries me immensly, namely my grades achived in my 3rd year. So far, I've been getting very mediocrate grades, and I am very worried that this might be an obstacle when applying for TC...

Could you please advice me, whether the firms pay any attention to the grades achieved whilst on Erasmus year ? (This year does not count towards my final grade of LLB, but nevertheless, I am getting some grades, and I'll have to break them down on TC application...)
I should have never done this horrendous experience, but now it's just too late..
Just to point that in my 2nd year I achieved the average of 68%, but now 1st year was pretty mediocrate.

Is it the overall experience you hate about it, or the fact you aren't achieving high marks? You say it's the social side and educational sides, but from your post it seems like it's more the fact your grades aren't living up to your expectations that is making the Erasmus year as a whole so bad.

[Bella_trixxx]

What others have said- keep positive! I'm on my year abroad in Russia at the moment and spent most of November-February in and out of hospital after finding out the hard way that my body just can't adapt to a fatty diet- but I'm determined not to let a little thing like that set me back! Don't be embarrassed to speak to locals, join choirs or clubs, go to the theatre, do everything you don't normally have the chance to do in the UK! Things are only what you make of them, and if you want to have fun and do well, you will.

[Valia99]

(Original post by cactussed)
Is it the overall experience you hate about it, or the fact you aren't achieving high marks? You say it's the social side and educational sides, but from your post it seems like it's more the fact your grades aren't living up to your expectations that is making the Erasmus year as a whole so bad.

Thanks for all your replies. I guess that you're right, that I did it for the wrong reasons, I simply wanted to enhance my application.
I'll follow your advice though, and I'll try to make the best of the remaining part.

cactussed, you're right that maybe I would enjoy the overall experience more if my grades were not so low! I am just so scared that it might jeopardise my chances, and overall the firms would be prefer to see strong of 2.1 without year abroad, rather than year abroad with such mediocrate grades.

I've chosen Germany, because I am fluent in German, since my father is German, I do not think so then, that I could say that my grades are so bad due to language difficulties.
I am just absolutely horrified at the thought of applying for TC once this year is finished, that's what I fear the most and it overshadows the overall experience.

[Aerasay]

I did an international year in America, so had few language difficulties, but had lower grades in the first semester because the course was taught at masters level and I was getting to grips with the concept of federal law. I then carefully selected my courses in the second semester to ensure I avoided those that were US law heavy, and focussed more on the International courses. I also had to work my ass off - it was a lot more work than an LLB in the UK was. But it was definitely worth it in the end.

My advice would be to work out why you are getting lower grades, particularly if you are fluent in the language and then study effectively to improve your grades. It is easy to explain bad grades your first semester away - getting used to a new country, new style of learning, picking inappropriate subjects, but do something to make it better the second semester.

And just to add I loved my year abroad, and would do it again in a heart beat! I would recommend it to anyone.

[ukr-nffc]

(Original post by Aerasay)

And just to add I loved my year abroad, and would do it again in a heart beat! I would recommend it to anyone.

Same here - i'm currently on my second semester abroad. Was in Prague last Semester and am now in Warsaw and bloody loving the whole thing!

Having said that, its natural that at some point you have lows but usually talking to someone you know/trust helps. My g/f and parents have been really supportive and i managed to deal with my problems objectively and continue to have a good time.

To echo an earlier post, next year will be a massive anti-climax and the difference in workload/pressure is something i'm not looking forward to!

to the OP, i would say try and make the most of the time you have left on Erasmus - i'm sure you'll regret not having done so upon reflection.

[AliceSJP]

I would just like to add that it is unfair to assume that everyone who doesn't enjoy their erasmus year/year abroad hasn't made enough effort to integrate/join clubs or generally get out there. Some people just get unlucky with the folks they meet or the culture just doesn't suit them. Good luck, try to enjoy it, but don't feel guilty if you don't!

[geofflazy]

You are not alone. I regret my erasmus year in Germany too and I am 8 months into mine. I regret the decision I made and wish I had stayed in the UK to finish my last year. I have not settled into the culture and felt rejected by locals at every turn. I feel that this is due to the fact that I am in a very small, traditional part of Germany and maybe a big city would have suited me better, who knows. The best you can do is use the time left to plan ahead for your final year and some Universities may allow you to withdraw the erasmus year ie swap back from a 4 year to a 3 year as if you never went, if your grades bring down your overall results. Chin up though! You are no failure and I do not believe that you have made no effort as some posts suggest, I know from my own experience and I can talk to anyone and anything! This has seriously knocked my confidence. Most people enjoy their erasmus year but I myself regret the fact that when I return I will not be graduating with my friends who stayed behind

[brm23]

(Original post by geofflazy)
You are not alone. I regret my erasmus year in Germany too and I am 8 months into mine. I regret the decision I made and wish I had stayed in the UK to finish my last year. I have not settled into the culture and felt rejected by locals at every turn. I feel that this is due to the fact that I am in a very small, traditional part of Germany and maybe a big city would have suited me better, who knows. The best you can do is use the time left to plan ahead for your final year and some Universities may allow you to withdraw the erasmus year ie swap back from a 4 year to a 3 year as if you never went, if your grades bring down your overall results. Chin up though! You are no failure and I do not believe that you have made no effort as some posts suggest, I know from my own experience and I can talk to anyone and anything! This has seriously knocked my confidence. Most people enjoy their erasmus year but I myself regret the fact that when I return I will not be graduating with my friends who stayed behind

I agree. I'm currently 2 1/2 months into my year abroad , doing a language assistantship in Koblenz, and I hate it. I've studied German for about 8 or 9 years now, and I knew I would be going on my year abroad when I started a degree in German, but I didn't realise how much I would hate it. I don't think that people are being completely fair when they say that people who don't enjoy it aren't trying hard enough. People are just different. I'm not usually a homesick person (I moved from my home in County Durham to Brighton 300 miles away for uni) but I would much rather be in England. I just can't get to grips with anything in Germany.

[KirstyK]

(Original post by brm23)
I agree. I'm currently 2 1/2 months into my year abroad , doing a language assistantship in Koblenz, and I hate it. I've studied German for about 8 or 9 years now, and I knew I would be going on my year abroad when I started a degree in German, but I didn't realise how much I would hate it. I don't think that people are being completely fair when they say that people who don't enjoy it aren't trying hard enough. People are just different. I'm not usually a homesick person (I moved from my home in County Durham to Brighton 300 miles away for uni) but I would much rather be in England. I just can't get to grips with anything in Germany.

It really just sounds like the stages of culture shock if I'm honest. I mean, first you go through the honeymoon phase, and everything great, then you go through the 'I hate everything phase' and it's more difficult, but at the end I think there is a balance that's struck and you accept that there are going to be things you hate but you're at peace with the experience. At least that's what I found when I researched before I went abroad, and in my years of relocating abroad found to be true. Sometimes it just takes a bit longer to move from one stage to the next.

[Copycats&Acrobats]

Do you go on the Erasmus exchange in your third year? Because I was told by my Erasmus coordinator that you had to have completed one year of undergrad study before you apply and you have to apply by the April the year before you go...

[Sir Fox]

(Original post by Valia99)
...

(Original post by geofflazy)
...

(Original post by brm23)
...

As a German I am really interested in why all of you particularly dislike your Erasmus experience in Germany. Anything special? Culture, education system, people, climate?

[xmarilynx]

(Original post by Sir Fox)
As a German I am really interested in why all of you particularly dislike your Erasmus experience in Germany. Anything special? Culture, education system, people, climate?

I was quite surprised by this thread. I can only imagine the other hundreds of people on Erasmus in Germany are too busy having fun to post about it on TSR (at least I hope so, as I've loved Germany whenever I've gone and hope to spend my Erasmus year there).

[anaplian]

Shock horror, people's personal experiences are subjective and sometimes differ from the norm. Come on guys *facepalm.

[xmarilynx]

(Original post by anaplian)
Shock horror, people's personal experiences are subjective and sometimes differ from the norm. Come on guys *facepalm.

True, but it's still interesting to question why that is.

Re-reading my post above I did sound rather judgemental, it's mostly just jealousy on my part though, because I'm desperate to spend my third year in Germany but Erasmus places are fiercely competitive.

[roh]

(Original post by xmarilynx)
True, but it's still interesting to question why that is.

Re-reading my post above I did sound rather judgemental, it's mostly just jealousy on my part though, because I'm desperate to spend my third year in Germany but Erasmus places are fiercely competitive.

Such are the downsides of going to French uni where plenty speak languages. Most British unis can barely fill their ERASMUS places sadly, only US and Aus are remotely competitive.


Incidentally I really enjoyed ERASMUS and so did virtually everyone else I know who did it, though it's not to be underestimated how difficult it is at times.

[xmarilynx]

(Original post by roh)
Such are the downsides of going to French uni where plenty speak languages. Most British unis can barely fill their ERASMUS places sadly, only US and Aus are remotely competitive.

Incidentally I really enjoyed ERASMUS and so did virtually everyone else I know who did it, though it's not to be underestimated how difficult it is at times.

I know, you guys are so lucky! I might show my classmates this thread to put them off and decrease the competition a bit

Glad you enjoyed your Erasmus experience