A new educational setting and nice country to experience, but many letdowns Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/26/2019 to 05/30/2019 with

University of Nottingham: Nottingham - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I did learn some studying skills that I did not have in my home institution because the learning style is just so different. I also got to take some electives I couldn't have taken in my institution. I also enjoyed being able to travel in the UK. In that sense it was fun and worthwhile, but I was very disappointed with how the university handled us.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Some physics electives were rigorous, but other courses were much less rigorous than my home institution. Classes very heavily based on lectures, which always happen in huge lecture halls. Very little help outside of class. No teaching assistant, and office hours are almost non-existent

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Administration was slow and frustrating. I guess part of it is because the university is so big, but I think they could have been more responsive and knowledgeable in helping exchange students.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was very good

* Food:

I would much rather be in a hall where I can cook for myself. The dining hall food was subpar, but most annoyingly, the dining hall staff was very strict on the portion - you can only take what was allowed, and most of the time that means not enough for me to be full. I am very small and I didn't have enough food. I don't know how others do it. Going to the dining hall was always so stressful, because I don't know how much I have to take and will get scolded if I take more than allowed. Would really appreciate it if they list somewhere how much is allowed

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There was a buddy program with local student, but that was it. We were housed with other exchange students, so no integration at all.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

No healthcare except for emergency situations if you're only there for a semester

* Safety:

No concerns

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I didn't have a lot of study abroad program choices, so I ended up with this one. I wouldn't choose it again since I didn't get the cultural exchange experience I was hoping for, though it was a nice shift to a big university environment (which, objectively, wasn't anywhere near as good as my home institution - it's the "once and never again" kind of experience, not because it is good but because it's worth trying)

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)

As the room and board has been included in the program fee, I didn't not to spend much except for extra food, as the meal plan is super limited

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 20

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

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
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?
  • Big university experience
  • The city (Nottingham)
  • The country
* What could be improved?
  • Administration
  • Integration for exchange students
  • Food
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The fall semester exchange students tend to get more help than spring

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics

Course Department: Physics
Instructor: Paul Saffin
Instruction Language:
Comments: Challenging yet rewarding; make sure to do reading properly (maybe a few times over)
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Semiconductor Physics

Course Department: Physics
Instructor: Igor Lesanovsky
Instruction Language:
Comments: Interesting, relatively challenging; a lot of rote memory compared to the general American class
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Social Psychology

Course Department: Psychology
Instructor: Stephanie McDonald
Instruction Language:
Comments: Very easy; huge class
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Literacy learning and education

Course Department: Education
Instructor: Susan Jones
Instruction Language:
Comments: Small class, discussion based. The professor is helpful and the content is interesting
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Faculty Japanese 1A

Course Department: Foreign language center
Instructor: Jane Lowe
Instruction Language:
Comments: Fun, small class, good professor
Credit Transfer Issues: