Scotland was Great.. Past Review
By A student (Trinity University) - abroad from 09/06/2017 to 12/21/2017 with
Arcadia: Edinburgh - University of Edinburgh
I think it was worthwhile, but it really was just attending school in a different setting. I will definitely return to Scotland just to travel and be abroad someday.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I really prefer the academic structure at my home school to that of University of Edinburgh. I felt that there wasn't enough structure and set up with course grading, leaving my grade dependent on a test and an essay at the end of the semester, neither of which I'd had any previous feedback to build on. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I felt that the orientation and time spent in a hotel as soon as arriving in Edinburgh was a bit overbearing, but then throughout the semester, I felt rather alone, not like I had program support available to me. There was a mid-semester check-in email sent to me, which I never replied to because I'm a bum, but then there was no follow up, leaving me to feel rather inconsequential (so yes, that's on me, but as a 21 year old living in a foreign country for the first time, I needed a little extra help and hand holding) |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I really enjoyed the single bedroom flat I lived in, my flatmates were fantastic and the few problems we faced with maintenance were fixed swiftly. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I got pneumonia while abroad and could not for the life of me find a doctor, my university therapist ended up being the most helpful resource, by telling me exactly how to work within the NHS system. It was honestly horrible, I highly suggest never taking a bus to a hospital while hacking up a lung ever. |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I honestly don't know, I didn't feel like I had very many program options, so I would want to shop around more if I could. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Somewhere around $100 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you're depressed and anxious at home, you will also be so abroad, so prepare yourself and understand what resources are available. Also, if you really hated the 'making friends' phase of your freshman year, consider coordinating your time abroad with a friend or think up ways to include yourself with local students/others in your program. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
