A difficult, but worthwhile semester Past Review
By Steven G (Colby College) - abroad from 01/05/2015 to 05/22/2015 with
University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Edinburgh provided an amazing experience, forcing me to be an 'adult.' I lived, studied, and traveled abroad for 5 months. Although scary and daunting at times, study abroad made me more confident, made me more comfortable spending time alone, etc. Plus you meet some pretty great people, as well.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Courses, even Honors courses, are much less rigorous than their American counterparts. Students basically teach themselves the material. Attending lectures, although not 'optional' per se, is oftentimes not helpful. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
University accommodation is quite nice. Newly renovated buildings. Almost all students live in singles. However, international students are often housed with freshmen, who seemed a little too party crazy. |
| * Food: |
You don't come to the UK for the food. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Met very few local students, but made some life long friends with other international students from across the globe. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Amazingly safe city. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* 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) |
|
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
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Scotland's weather is atrocious. There is very little sunlight during the winter months. It also is routinely cold, wet, and windy. |
