Scotland in the Spring Past Review
By A student (Accounting, Oklahoma State University - Stillwater) - abroad from 02/02/2015 to 05/22/2015 with
Robert Gordon University: Aberdeen - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
This time abroad gave me some international experience that I will always be thankful for. It taught me to do more than just the bare minimum assigned reading for classes, and it also taught me to embrace trying new things. I found this trip very worthwhile. I got to meet new friends, try new experiences, and see a country that I've wanted to see for years now.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses were harder than my home university because there were lectures and tutorials each week with assigned reading, but there was no required homework to motivate students to do every piece of review. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was like any other college dorm. My biggest problem was that my flatmates didn't clean their dishes until they needed them. |
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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? |
Robert Gordon encourages international students to enroll at a health practice as a just-in-case measure. There were health options connected to the university close to all residential halls for convenience. |
| * Safety: |
Aberdeen is just like any other city. You need to make smart decisions if you go out at night: take a cab if you will be drinking or go out with a group. On a personal note I walked four blocks to catch my bus to the airport and I felt completely safe walking. The streets are well-lit and my bus stop was two blocks away from the Aberdeen Police Station. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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? | $60-$80 per week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Go to the grocery store and stock up on basic staples. Buy a long-term bus pass; you will save more. If you want to travel buy bus or train tickets weeks in advance. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | I should have chosen to live with other international students, I thought when I chose to live with local students I would be more immersed in the culture. That didn't happen; instead I missed a lot of trips I could have taken with the friends I made with the international students. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
