Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Freedom Past Review

By (Art and English, Trinity University) - abroad from 01/17/2013 to 06/01/2013 with

IFSA: St. Andrews - University of St. Andrews

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was so worth it; I wish I'd spent a full year there. I learned how to let loose and actually enjoy myself. The community was wonderful. Most people at my own University are bags of dicks, if I may say so. I had an absolutely fantastic time.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Very well integrated, although that had to do with putting myself out there more than anything else. The Scottish people, especially in St. Andrews, are very friendly and welcoming.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

St. Andrews is ridiculously safe. A woman can walk 40 minutes home alone in the dead of night and never be bothered once.

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)

It was pretty expensive...100$ a week was scarily easy to spend. But there's the UK for you.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About $50 at the least.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Know that every pound should be saved... especially in cases of going out. Can't tell you how many times I used one pound coins for club cover charges.

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?
  • Excursions
  • Helpful Staff
  • The People I Met
* What could be improved?
  • Please be clearer about living arrangements. Both my roommate and I arrived thinking we had a single room...and it turned out when they said 'single' they meant two 'single beds.' Lucky for us, we liked each other a lot!
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Life can be fun if you take chances - hiding alone in your room is no way to experience college. Take it from me; I've done both and I'm now much happier because of the easy-going culture in Scotland and St. Andrews in particular. Don't be a weenie; go out and meet people. I wish Trinity had the same culture of establishing groups of friends. It's a damn jail swarming with cliques.

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 Blazer
Craving 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.'