Learning From Experience/Learning Outside of Comfortable Environment Past Review
By A student (Bucknell University) - abroad from 01/21/2016 to 05/28/2016 with
Arcadia: St. Andrews - University of St Andrews
I think just in general when you're out of your social norms and comfort zone you learn so much about yourself (I know, cheesy). I think I grew and learned more about what I believe by being in different cultures both in Scotland and in other countries. It's important to travel and learn and I think that while I did learn inside my classrooms, I learned most of what I'll carry with me forever while traveling and spending time in Scotland.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I enjoyed the host program, but we ended up just sitting in the woman's house (she was quite old-- which was 100% fine) and watching TV with her. It honestly I really nice breather and it was nice to see stirling, but also wasn't what I expected. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Very satisfied, loved my hall, the location, and my roommate (who wasn't an arcadia study abroad student, but was a study abroad student from another program) |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Everyone was super welcoming, and the group of arcadia students who I came with all ended up sticking together. While many of us also branched out and made new friends, I became super close with a lot of the arcadia program kids and it was nice to know that they were there. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Didnt use it |
| * Safety: |
St. Andrews was very very safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I really enjoyed being part of the actual community at the university. I didnt want to go somewhere and only take classes with other bucknell or american students, and St. Andrews allowed for me to not do that plus really integrate into the St Andrews community. |
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) |
St. Andrews is kind of an expensive place, plus if you want to travel around the continent or scotland that adds even more expenses. This is something that everyone seemed to anticipate though. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take advantage of student discounts, don't go on trips like youre with your parents (you aren't, so you probably can't afford it), people who kept track of their spending by writing it down seemed to save the most, drinking is expensive so just make sure youre budgeting while drinking. |
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? | Save more money, take advantage of the golfing, get to know the professors as much as you can. |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
