Alumni Testimonials
I don't regret a single day of my studies in Aachen
My first impression of Aachen was not very pleasant. I visited the city, in which I eventually wanted to study, in the spring of 1998. It welcomed me with its typical consistent drizzle. Nevertheless, I decided to study electrical engineering at RWTH Aachen. As I went to enroll, the city welcomed me with cheerful sunshine and I spontaneously fell in love with it.
In the mean time, years have past and I have the left city for professional reasons. I do not regret a single day of my studies in Aachen. I met some of my best friends during my studies. They all successfully started careers, which speaks to the education and good reputation of RWTH Aachen. Even now I meet former students from Aachen during my everyday work, and somehow a connection exists, through attending the same school. Each talks of his or her memories of the Pontstraße, the CHIO equestrian competition, or the ice hockey tournament hosted by the Faculties of Medicine, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering.
I was also athletically active at the university. I was a member of "Aixplosives", RWTH Aachen and FH Aachen's softball team for four years. In my last semester we managed to become German University champions. Here I would like to say hello and extend my thanks to the Aixplosives!
Nowadays I gladly return to Aachen and remember my time at university. I hope the same goes for future graduates.
Dipl.-Ing. Sven Siauw, Bamberg
Despite my love for Aachen, I have left the city twice. Early on I decided to learn Spanish and wanted to spend an Erasmus year in Spain. As I discussed this with Professor Haubrich, he simply said: "Europe? That is boring. Go to Argentina." A short while later at Professor Haubrich's recommendation, I wrote a research paper in San Juan in Argentina and spent four impressive months there. I also completed an internship in Spain before my Diplom.
Arrival at Aachen West Train Station: It's Raining
Enrollment
Middle of March 1967– Arrival at Aachen-West Train Station: It’s raining.
Bare trees – dark red, almost dirty brick buildings.
Anxiety.
The path to the main building passes by Audimax.
Enrollment is relatively unbeaurocratic, despite the lines.
There are two counters:
the one woman is nice, helpful, and friendly,
the other reminds me of the military orderly room, that one had just managed to escape from
But in the end, I had the orange colored student ID card.
The rain had stopped.
The marketplace, town hall, the cathedral: very impressive.
Crocuses and daffodils bloomed around Elisenbrunnen.
The spring sun was coming out.
Good, to be able to soon study here.
Diether Wittek, Kirchlinteln
I made the right choice
As a young student, I already knew I was interested in science, particularly chemistry. It really awakened my scientific curiosity. After I passed the Abitur, I decided to start a Diplom course of study for Chemistry at RWTH Aachen. It was already clear after a few semesters that I had made the right decision, not only regarding the university but also my major. I quickly became familiar with the tranquil life in Aachen and I enjoyed being a student, as much as the various practical activities at the university permitted. Eleven semesters later, I was a freshly graduated chemist, and I knew without a doubt that I also wanted to complete my doctoral work at RWTH.
I can say with a clear conscience and complete conviction, that I would go back and study at RWTH Aachen at any time.
Dr.rer.nat. Matthias R. M. Hüttl, Hamburg
During this time, I met many people, who positively changed and enriched my life. I will stay friends with many of them in the future and think back on the fond memories of my time at the university.
Pleasant Memories of Aachen and RWTH
After the recommendation of a fellow Egyptian, who completed his doctoral studies in Aachen, I came to the quiet, small, and pretty city to study Civil Engineering. The road to success was not the only bright thing. The following factors also enriched my time at RWTH:
- Good contact to my German and international colleagues in the residence halls, at the university, and to the citizens of Aachen, where I lived with my family.
- Financial support from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and good advising from the university.
- A good atmosphere at the Institute for Building Materials Research (ibac) under the leadership of Professor Karlhans Wesche.
- Participation in and active involvement with excursions, conferences, and events both within and outside of Aachen.
I remember two important events: the birth of my first daughter in the Luisenhospital and the doctoral celebration after the doctoral examination.
Dr.-Ing. El-Hoseny Wahdan, Cairo
For 30 years I have maintained good contact to a few colleagues at ibac. Furthermore, I am also a member of the Building Material Society/Baustoffverein in Aachen.