I moved from the US to Germany for college. Tuition is mostly free, but I miss the American school spirit.

Tue, 08/06/2024 - 04:05

A cheerleader on the left and the same girl posing with the view of the mountains on the right. — Amanda Mrokez decided to withdraw from Central Michigan University and enroll at the University of Cologne in 2021.
Amanda Mrokez

Amanda Mrokez, 25, decided to transfer from Michigan to Cologne, Germany for college in 2021.
She said students in Germany don't end up with debt and has noticed that classes are more flexible.
However, she struggled with the lack of school spirit and the "stressful" grading system.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Amanda Mrokez, an American student in Cologne, Germany. The following has been edited for length and clarity.