frackledJJ
 |
As a US American with only a high-school diploma, it will not be easy to get into a German university. Most will require some kind of extra education, and be it only that you took some University or college classes while you were still in High School. Next, you will need to pass a German test. Most of the students coming from countries that have it a little easier to study in Germany (people from countries in the european union or something similar) stay in Germany as a language student for a year, visiting classes, before they take that test. I know people who had to take that test five times before they either gave up or finally passed (imagine the cost they put on their sponsors! While being such a language student, you are not allowed to work!), only to discover that German University life wasn't for them, after a semester or two.
Like others said, German university life is not as "glossed over". Where you live: nobody cares. Whether you are adjusting to your new life: nobody cares. Whether you are finding people with whom to hang out: nobody cares. Tutors to help you in the transition and when you are slipping up in your course-work: Nada. Caring teachers: hm...not.
Finding people willing to study with you and probably loose time because they might have to explain things to you due to language difficulties? If your mother tongue was russian, you had better chances. And that all IF you made it into University. And don't think that would be easy. Even if you think you've got everything of your stuff organized, translated, inspected, turned over and approved at least a trillion times, the first school secretary will look at your stuff and say: "What am I supposed to do with that?", simply because it's more work, and she is not really crazy about having to deal with it. If you step on those feet and unnerve them every day, you still might get what you want, but that's easier to do when your standing in front of them, creating a problem they can't ignore, cause you are there and talking and stepping in their way, and I'm guessing you won't be able to do that at every school you are applying to, all the time before you run out of grace periods.
Sorry, that is the very informal and not very glossy version of University life, but unfortunately, for most universities and universities of applied sciences, this version is much closer to the truth than the one that's being served up by the ministry for foreign affairs/ embassy. People are overworked, and everything that needs more time than the usual procedure is a nuisance.
Next thing: citizenship. No, a student visa will not help you in getting a citizenship. To apply for citizenship, you will have to prove that you have lived in Germany for eight years, and if you are not a refuge, those eight years you had better had a job that allowed you to live financially unassisted by anyone else. Also, you will have had to have a work visa for these eight years, and not have spent more than a specific (longer) amount of time out of the country. It will further be influenced by whether you have immediate family in your home country, and if yes, how many of them there are.
You might want to argue that once you have a degree from a German university, it will be easier to get a job in Germany, but: there's high unemployment in Germany right now (percentage-wise, it was higher than the US-rate before the financial crisis, and thanks to that, it won't get any better, anytime soon). And again, you would be up against everyone who was your friend in University, has the same degree, and has no need for special treatment and extra cost and work due to immigration restrictions, which you, respectively the secretary of your potential future employer, will have a need for. Plus, your competition for the job might have work experience from summer jobs in companies that you will not have, because you, on your student visa, are not allowed to work.
There are numerous other little quirks and corners you will have to jump for immigration and citizenship. The one I've mentioned is just the biggest one. If you are not sufficiently fluent in German to read and understand every contract and every agreement you have to sign, the regulations will have you on the floor in - well, not seconds, but... And I'm not saying everyone you meet will try to deceive you and rob you of money you don't have in the first place, but there will be people seeing your weak spot and shamelessly using it for their own ends. And that on top of everything else you will be up against.
This is not a rosy picture, I know, and if you ever read through this whole text without rolling your eyes and saying: "Oh, my God, she just doesn't like foreigners, that's why she's so awful!", no, it's not the reason. If one doesn't like things at home, it is easier to imagine that things will be a lot easier somewhere else, and dreaming about that. But realizing that you are running straight for a concrete wall is diffi |
celebrate_me_home_2000
 |
If you can pass the german test, you can get into a German University, but does not mean you will get a degree. Whether you get the degree, that is a whole different topic. A student visa does not allow you to become a german citizen.
You probably will not be able to become a German citizen unless maybe you marry a german or you meet all the criteria to become a citizen. It would be very difficult for you to accomplish it. You probably lose your motivation over time. That would be the hardest part.
Your best bet is to come here on a working permit with a company that is sponsoring you or as a college student.
http://www.study-in-germany.de/
http://www.daad.de/de/index.html
There is high employment here and it is pretty low right now. Unemployment is higher than the USA and it is pretty good, that is what I mean.
If you are not vocational trained, your chances of decent work is zero.
Getting a degree is from one of the german universities can be difficult for those who don't have the academic mind for it. It is not like going to a university in the USA. It is a academic activity and not so glossed with college life.
I have four boys that speak fluent German, but not all of them are german university material. I have one son graduating next year, I hope, in computer sciences.
I don't know if Tokio Hotel is a good example of what is going on in Germany. You'd be pressed to find company who like the band here.
Honestly, stay where you are at. You have no idea what you are up against. |
News
Travel Topics
Travel Forum Travel Directories
Dictionary 
Travel
Forum 
Germany 
No Spam
Adult 
Gambling
Unfinished
Deception
Plagiarism
Not English
