Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Definitely worth the experience to study abroad at least once in your life. Past Review

By (Art History, Criticism and Conservation., Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/27/2014 to 05/23/2014 with

University of St. Andrews: St. Andrews - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I've become more open-minded and independent.

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.

I took two Art History seminar courses over the semester, and they were very academically rigorous. The professors were very interactive, and we had frequent field trips to have a hands-on experience.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The university had plenty of resources, and everything was available at Market Street.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was satisfied with the dorm I was staying in. David Russell is quite far from the main campus, but the dorm was very clean and had all the necessary resources.

* Food:

I chose the option of being catered so breakfast and dinner were available on weekdays, and breakfast and lunch were available on weekends at David Russell. I often bought food and groceries at Market Street as well.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It took a while to adjust at first since the campus is so isolated, but I managed to create my own lifestyle that I enjoyed for the rest of the semester.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I was not sick during the semester so I'm not really aware of how the healthcare program is. However, the health center is quite far from every other building on campus which made it seem difficult to access.

* Safety:

The campus is safe, but it would be better if there were more transportation systems that were available to the students who live far from the main campus.

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)

Everything was quite expensive at St Andrews compared to living expenses at Wellesley.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Offered a unique experience
  • It is what you make of it
  • Met a lot of different people from all backgrounds
* What could be improved?
  • On-campus transportation
  • A more interactive orientation
  • Clear notifications of on-campus events
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Living expenses, and what on-campus social life is like.

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 Linguist
You 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!