Scotland: The Rugged International Experience Past Review
By Claire B (History And Anthropology, The College of William and Mary) - abroad from 01/28/2012 to 05/23/2012 with
University of St. Andrews: St. Andrews - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I became a stronger and more independent person. It was worthwhile, but maybe at a different point in my life.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Much different from American experience. Not tested on readings until the final papers. Grades heavily weighted on only two assignments. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very organized when you look for help, but you definitely need to look. You need to be a self-sufficient student at this school. Things will not be laid out for you clearly. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Individual rooms with good kitchen facilities. More common areas would have been nice. Nice windows. |
| * Food: |
Typical Scottish fare, which isn't the best. Pretty good variety though and healthy food. Zero good dessert options though. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Not very integrated, as it is a very international school. Felt more English than Scottish, and not much interaction with St Andrews locals. Also because it is a tourist town in general. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There was a hospital nearby. No University health care. But there was a competent pharmacy and we knew where to look for help. |
| * Safety: |
Very very safe community. The university has no honor code, as do other American schools, so you need to be careful about theft. But I never felt unsafe there. Just be smart. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
Scotland is on the pound, so it is not at all economical with the dollar. Meal plans did not cover every meal, so it was necessary to eat out and not very cheap. Drinking is legal but you need to pay for them. Luckily there is Tesco, a cheap grocery store with a lot of options for food and other things. |
| * 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? | $50+ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Just be careful when you're out at night. It's easy to lose track of how much you're spending. There are also cover charges for many parties. Buy groceries in stock when you can, but be careful if kitchen facilities let food go bad quickly. |
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? | Direct Enrollment |
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? | Four months is a long time in a country that doesn't go above 60 degrees. |
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! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Ethnographic Encounters |
| Course Department: | Social Anthropology |
| Instructor: | varied |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | So many different mediums of study and topics covered. Was able to create my own ethnography using research conducted over spring break. Very well organized course. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
