Incredible culture in an amazing location Past Review
By A student (Chemical Engineering, University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 09/04/2017 to 12/15/2017 with
University of Aberdeen: Aberdeen - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
This study abroad was most definitely worthwhile. The friendships, time management, and travel skills I learned while I was abroad are irreplaceable. I also learned a lot from my courses. The opportunity to be integrated into a culture and to experience life on the other side of the ocean was unbelievable and will rank as one of my most memorable experiences in college.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Very challenging coursework, but no more challenging than at the University of Maine for Chemical Engineers in their 3rd Year Fall Semester. The style of learning is much more in the hands of the students as 20% of your final grade is coursework over the semester and 80% is based on one final exam. This requires some serious discipline as the end of the year approaches, but alleviates stress early on in the semester and allowed me to experience more freedom than I am normally accustom. Lecturers are excellent. I took EX3030 (5 stars), EX3029 (3.5 stars), EX40HC (5 stars), as well as an archaeology course AY1003 (5 stars). As long as you keep up with Tutorials and the Continuous Assessment you should be very prepared for the Final Exams in all the classes. I would also recommend attending all the lectures, or at the very least watching the recordings of the all the lectures if you miss any. It is possible to do "Trips" during the week and to skip some lectures, but you cannot skip more than 20% of the Tutorials for each course as you will be removed from the class. If you are planning on doing any "Trips" I recommend getting them done earlier in the semester than later to avoid extra stress come exam time, which may require purchasing flights/transportation prior to arrival to Aberdeen! Overall excellent school. Expect tough courses and you will not be surprised, but you do have a lot of flexibility particularly early on in the semester! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The international exchange staff at Aberdeen University are well equipped to help you with any questions and are very approachable! They were able to keep me well informed with events going on at the university! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in Adam Smith, which is a dorm styled complex with singles and shared kitchens. The atmosphere in this dorm was excellent and everyone in my halls was extremely friendly. The only complaint I have would be the aesthetic of the building. The running joke was that the architect who designed Adam Smith had last designed a prison. The white concrete walls, bare courtyard, and gloomy exterior all played into the "prison" effect that came off of it. |
| * Food: |
The positive about living in Adam Smith was the Catered food we would receive every day, after a mix-up early in the semester we were given fifty pounds per week to spend at the university cafeterias and bars. The food was well prepared and there was a wide variety to choose from. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Attending football and rugby matches as well as participating in university organizations helped integrate myself into the culture of Aberdeen. Living in the dorms was not as integrating as I would have liked only due to the fact that I was living with mostly international students! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
N/A |
| * Safety: |
Voted #1 for city safety for universities in all of the UK |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
So I can experience another country! |
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? | 50-100 dollars |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy groceries rather than going out and save your money on food and drinks to spend it on things that will give you experiences! |
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? | Direct Enrollment |
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 wish I had known to apply for an international drivers license before leaving as I would have been able to get really great discounts on rental cars during the trip. I also wish I had known about the site skyscanner which finds cheap flights to any location! |
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.' |
