Edinburgh: The best study abroad experience I could have hoped for! Past Review
By Simone D (PSYCHOLOGY., Wellesley College) for
University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My experience was absolutely worthwhile. I made some life-long friends, fell in love with a new city, traveled to places I never thought I would, opened my eyes to the world, and made me realize things about myself that I had no idea were there.
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. |
In general, the workload was lighter than what I was used to at my home university. There was a lot less class time and direct instruction, and I did not feel as though the rigor of my classes abroad was up to the level that I was used to. The grading system was quite different, but in general my professors understood this difference and were willing to explain it to the foreign students. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I did not have much interaction with the on-site study abroad office while I was there, but they were very helpful in answering my questions before I left. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
i was very satisfied with my housing. The flat-style self catered living fit very well with my lifestyle, and the location was really convenient to classes and the city in general. |
| * Food: |
I was very happy with my food accommodations - I chose the self-catered option which allowed a lot of flexibility and convenience for me. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I had a wonderful social and cultural experience abroad. I was able to meet a lot of really interesting and diverse people who opened my eyes to the greater world. I was able to see a lot of local sights with the International Student Center, and I also arranged quite a few trips with friends around Scotland and Europe. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Edinburgh. There were very few times that I was worried for my safety walking around, and I felt comfortable going anyplace I needed to go. As for healthcare, I did have some issues with the university health service. I got very sick at one point and had difficulty making an appointment to see a doctor despite my symptoms. The biggest thing I would recommend is registering with a doctor as soon as possible - I decided to wait and see if I got sick, and it caused some problems when I ultimately did. |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I probably spent about $40-50 on food and other things per week, depending on the week. Most weeks it was less than this, but if I was going places or eating out with friends, it ended up being more. I spent the vast majority of my money on food, and tried to find deals/free things to do when going out. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would say, make a budget if you think it would be helpful to you, but in general, keep in mind the rule of regret - don't leave your abroad experience regretting spending money on anything OR regretting not doing something because of money. You will probably spend more than you anticipated, but make sure what you're spending your money on is worth it. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
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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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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