A Semester of Academia and Exploration January 14, 2025
By A student (English, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/08/2024 to 12/14/2024 with
University of Cambridge, Pembroke College: Cambridge - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My semester at Cambridge pushed me to live more independently and improved my critical writing abilities. While it was not perfect, it was a rewarding and worthwhile experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The supervision system is what you make of it! If you take advantage of your resources and stay on top of your work, it is easily manageable. Writing a dissertation was an especially rewarding experience that I highly recommend! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The IP team at Pembroke was very supportive and responsive, guiding both academic and personal welfare. We had individual advisors who answered any questions we had and provided support if and when we needed it. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We stayed in Pembroke-owned housing, called hostels by the college, which were houses in the city converted into dorm-style living. |
| * Food: |
There is a dining hall available, but no required meal plan. I cooked most of my meals, and either went to the dining hall or ate out at other times. Often my friends and housemates would have communal meals in the kitchen together which was a nice way to build community. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I lived right in the city of Cambridge where we could live like locals and other university students. England is not too different from the US, and so it was easy to integrate into local culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Cambridge is a relatively safe place, but I would be aware of incidents like phone theft and the general precautions of living in a (very) small city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
It was relatively easy to budget for food by cooking for myself. But it is also easy to spend more money than usual when living in a new place with new experiences, as I went out, traveled, and explored to make the most of being abroad. |
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?
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? | 0 |
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 make a greater effort to join societies and connect with local students despite only being there for a short time. |
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! |
