It was an exciting and wonderful season of my life. March 09, 2023
By A student (Psychology, University of Hartford) - abroad from 09/06/2022 to 12/17/2022 with
API (Academic Programs International): Edinburgh - University of Edinburgh
I learned so much about myself. I learned how to be independent, how to put myself out there to make friends, and also how to budget money.
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. |
Truely the best experience of my life. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. I went to the university of Stirling, in Scotland, but they did not have that option available for this review. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Alexis was the best coordinator and a very comfortable person to have around, especially being away from family. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The flat was moldy and small, but I think that allowed me and all my flatmates to become close and bond more because of it. |
| * Food: |
The food was okay. I am very picky and don't like a lot, but I did try everything. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Within the first 2 weeks I felt acclimated and comfortable around the town and the people in it. Everyone was so nice and welcoming there. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
My friend had a hard timing getting in contact with the GP, but on campus there was a doctor and a pharmacy which was good to know. |
| * Safety: |
Stirling is one of the safest cities in the UK, and honestly it really did feel safe. Even being out during the night, I never felt threatened or creeped out. As long as you're with a group of people I felt comfortable. |
| 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) |
Things added up much quicker than I thought. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent around 150 a week, sometimes 200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Get a credit card where you know will work in the country you are going to. Also, take into account the money transfer from one currency to another. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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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| 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? | I wish I knew to find a credit card company that worked in the UK. Another thing is I wish I packed differently. Packed more layering cloths and get more british pounds. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
