Scotland Uncovered Past Review
By Alexandria P (Biology, General., Trinity University) for
Arcadia: Stirling - University of Stirling
My experience in Scotland was one of the greatest experiences of my life. The people I met really made the difference for me and I feel that I have grown so much in just one semester. Before this trip I had not traveled much at all, and now I'm hoping to expand my horizons through other countries one day. I'd highly recommend Scotland and specifically Stirling to anyone who wants a welcoming and positive study abroad experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academic level is not strenuous and is perfectly manageable, I found myself with a lot of free time. Just make sure you understand what the professor wants and how they grade as well as what the Scottish grades transfer to for American grades (Arcadia provides you with a handy equivalence scale). |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The leaders we had from Arcadia were based in Edinburgh so we did not have on-site administration from them, but they took occasional visits up to Stirling to meet with us for trips and they were always available by e-mail or for any emergencies. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We were able to do a home-stay before we moved in to the University which was one of my favorite parts of my experience. Even though it was only for a few days, I was able to stay in touch with my host parents throughout the semester and visit them. Study abroad students were only given two choices for housing, on-campus dorms or off-campus flats. I was initially placed in the flats which are very nice, but I soon moved on campus for convenience sake as I participated in sports as well as clubs which meet late at night. |
| * Food: |
My favorite place to eat on-campus was Haldanes eatery. They always feature a hot meal plus a vegetarian option. They also have a sandwich bar, soup, salad, dessert and plenty of drink options. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Make sure to attend a Scottish Ceilidh there will be many opportunities to do so. I'd also recommend traveling around Scotland, go to Edinburgh and the northern parts of Scotland, they are beautiful. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
There is a health center on campus which is helpful if you have small health issues. I always felt very safe on campus. There are porters in every dorm that are very strict about who they let into the dorms. Stirling is a wonderful place to live and I felt safe walking in town at night as well. |
| 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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | The exchange rate was hard to get used to. My advice is just remember that every time you buy something its essentially double coming out of your account. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
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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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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