Altogether, about 50 volunteer student guides from the University’s 12 Faculties are standing by to help new students find their way around the campus and explain some of the formalities freshers have to take care of. Marthe Heidemann, who works for the Central Student Advisory Office, points out that “It’s mostly freshmen coming straight from school who take advantage of the service. But a lot of older as well as international students also see the sense of being shown around first”, she says. 16 freshmen took up the offer alone in the month of May. The Central Student Advisory Office advertises with flyers and on Facebook to inform new students about this unique possibility to get a taste of what studying in Bremen is like. It usually involves a whole day, with visits to lecture courses, seminars, tutorials, and even lunch in the Mensa, the main dining hall. Everything at first hand. And naturally plenty of opportunities to put questions. “We are always happy to recruit more volunteers”, says student advisor Heidemann.
Public Health has an enviable reputation
Ronja graduated from Tellkampfschule high school in the south of Hanover. Currently she is serving a volunteer social year in a children’s hospital. She wants to study public health. You can’t do that at every university in Germany, and Bremen enjoys a high reputation. “I’m looking forward to living away from home,” she says, “but it shouldn’t be too great a distance”. When she finishes studying she wants to work in health consultancy.
“How often will I have to do written assignments?”
The course Emelie takes Ronja to is not exactly the easiest introduction to studying. Statistics in the Grazer Straße auditorium; and after that, health economics in Building GW2. “Sorry, but that’s my usual Tuesday schedule”, she says. Her guest finds both courses interesting, though. “I liked it very much. Could even follow most of what was going on”, chirps Ronja happily. She had plenty of opportunity to have her questions answered while changing between rooms on the campus: How often will I have to do written assignments? How much time will that take? What does a practical semester entail? Where’s the best place to live? In town or on campus? She is then very taken by what she sees during a brief visit to Emelie’s student lodgings at Am Fleet.
Our guest from Hanover feels at ease right away
On their way to the dining hall, Emelie shows Ronja the Boulevard at the heart of the campus, the auditorium building fondly called the ‘cookie jar’ [German: Keksdose], the Study Building [Studierhaus], and the library. Here, Emelie introduces her guest to a student girlfriend who will be undertaking an internship abroad in Sidney: She recommends that Ronja does the same. Our guest from Hanover seems keen: “Cool”, she says and then sums up her visit: “If everything hadn’t been so impressive as it was I would probably have had second thoughts. But now I know I applied at the right university!”
Recommendation: Veggy Burgers
Altogether, a complete success for Emelie B., too, who had organized the day so well and was able to answer with competence all the questions put to her. “I enjoy passing on what I know to visitors like Ronja and I look forward to bumping into her again one day somewhere on the campus once she starts studying here, she says. And just before Ronja leaves she receives a very special tip: “You must try the veggy burgers in the cafeteria; they taste real good”. Content and now fully informed, Ronja starts her journey home. She’s sure to be back; but for much longer next time.
If you would like to have a student pilot show you around the university or are thinking about making an appointment to do so, you’ll find all you need to know under: www.uni-bremen.de/studienlotsen
www.facebook.com/studienorientierungunibremen
