Edinburgh is amazing! Past Review
By Jordan Laesch (Oklahoma State University - Stillwater) - abroad from 01/09/2017 to 05/19/2017 with
Heriot-Watt University: Edinburgh – Direct Enrollment & Exchange
By living away from friends and family and being in an unfamiliar place I gained a lot of patience. It was definitely worthwhile and gave me the opportunity to grow as a person and expand my way of thinking.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Courses at Heriot Watt were not very difficult, but it was important to attend class since lectures were only once per week. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I wasn't sure who I was supposed to go to if I had questions about my exchange program. In the beginning I needed to get papers signed and sent back to OSU, and I was always sent to someone different. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived on campus at Heriot Watt University. It was convenient to get to class and meet other exchange students, but I feel that I didn't get the full experience of living in Edinburgh, compared to other students I had met who lived off campus. |
| * Food: |
The food in Edinburgh was amazing! But the food on campus at Heriot Watt was not as great. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I had the opportunity to attend a Ceilidh (traditional scottish gathering). I also experienced the night life which is a huge part of the Scottish culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Overall, I felt completely safe in Edinburgh. A couple times, I had to catch flights at 6:00 am, which meant going to the bus at 3:00 am. There are always people out at night and I never felt unsafe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
If I could do it over again, I would choose a different country, just so I can explore more parts of the world. |
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) |
I was able to stay on budget by grocery shopping rather than eating out. I also bought a bus pass every month rather than taking uber or taxis. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Use public transportation. Share expenses with friends/ flatmates Buy groceries (try to eat out only 1-2 times a week) Look out for free food on campus Save money for traveling |
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? | 10+ |
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? | I wish I had known to live in a flat in city centre. I also would have traveled more on the weekends. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
