Amazingly fabulous people and good times in Nottingham Past Review
By Chelsea F (Creative Writing., Sarah Lawrence College) - abroad from 09/18/2011 to 06/23/2012 with
University of Nottingham: Nottingham - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned an amazing amount about myself and what I want from life as well as just how much I can actually accomplish all on my own because I really was all alone at the start of the year. I also gained an appreciation for just how widely diverse our world is even in a country like England where they speak the same language. I met some of the most incredible people whom I will never forget and who have changed my life forever. Furthermore I gained appreciate for my home, for the USA, as well as my home institution which I finally realized is exactly the right school for me. It was definitely worthwhile.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | University Park Jubilee |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The lecture and seminar style classes I attended felt far more removed in terms of student and teacher interaction than I am use. However, the Education Department through which I attended 2 different writing classes were very well conducted and deserve 4 stars. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I knew where I could go if I needed assistance, however in terms of organized trips and feeling connected to the international community it was slightly more difficult simply seeing as the community was so large. I didn't know anyone else who actually came to Nottingham on the same Reed Exchange program as me. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My single room was much larger than expected and conveniently located on campus so I never had more than a 10 minute walk. Where I was it was only 5 girls to 2 bathrooms and the school cleaned them everyday. I was very satisfied. |
| * Food: |
The on campus lunch options were fabulous. There were so many different ways I could spend my 5.10 allowance. However, the dinner meals were very limited in options and after the first term got very monotonous and often rather bad. Furthermore there were no places on campus I could get food after 5 pm. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I only lived with 2 other international students (neither of which were form the USA) and so I felt very much a part of Nottingham and the community. It was a great experience and I met some truly amazing people. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Since I was a full year exchange student I was placed on the health care program and had full coverage. Although I never needed to take advantage of the amenities a friend of mine also on full year exchange did and he was very pleased and satisfied with the help he received. |
| * Safety: |
Although I did not see security driving around campus that often the campus itself felt incredibly safe and I never worried about walking back to my dorm alone at night. |
| 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) |
I lived on a budget of about 10-20 pounds a week so based on the given rating system thats 5 stars. However, I didn't have a job and the monetary exchange rate was very steep. I only went over with $1600 and easily spent that all during my first term leaving me in trouble for the second term. Needless to say I'm working now on paying off my credit card bill. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 10 pounds unless I was traveling |
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? |
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? | English professor's look for a very different style in their essays than Americans. If I could do it all over again I would have steered clear of all lectures and English Studies classes and just taken Writing Classes. It's not a great time to experiment with your studies - just do what you really love and know. Also, if you choose to live in the dorms you'll be living with first years. I would consider living in one of the self-catering halls instead. There are so many food stores nearby. However, I met all my closest friends because they lived in my Hall. |
