Going abroad is worth the depression of returning Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I learned more than ever before, and enjoyed doing it for the entire semester (a collegiate first). I wish I had studied in Edinburgh for all of my undergraduate years. Returning to SUNY Oneonta is both depressing and regrettable.

On-site administration of your program

There was not a program administrator from my home SUNY system, but the Edinburgh study abroad department was quite involved and dedicated. There were many opportunities to participate in special activities and the staff was very accessible and helpful.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We lived in university-owned flats in the center of the city. There was a 7-minute walk to campus, and extreme ease in getting anywhere in the city. I lived with students from the US, Germany, and Scotland, and I made friends for life. The university maintenance staff was decent and fixed any problems in a reasonable time. We quickly became accustomed to the bar noise below us, and it did not pose any problems. Robertson's Close, Cowgate. <br /><br /> The location was ideal. The bar below us was not, but it did not hurt the experience after the first week.

British food is bland, but I ate a lot of new things. We cooked at home to save money, and there is a large ethnic community in Edinburgh (Arab, Thai, Chinese, Indian, Polish). Haggis is a must-try (go to the malt shovel on cockburn st.), and fish and chips are a common meal. Deep-fried mars bars (on the royal mile) are the ideal late-night snack. Bar food is cheap and filling (go to black bull on grassmarket).

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There were many clubs to participate in, and the city offers so much. Travel is amazingly easy (use Ryanair for cheap weekend trips). We bought a castle pass and traveled around Scotland to see them, and flew to Oslo, Stockholm, Dublin, Galway, and Rome.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The city is quite safe, although it is a city so I would advise to walk in pairs/ groups. The health system was surprisingly disappointing. I tried registering with the University health center, but they insisted it was not necessary since i was there for one semester. I got a double ear infection and severe cold, but was denied service because of the heavy demand (swine flu season). A friend went to another doctor and ended up spending a significant amount of money. Consequently, I did not go to the doctor and suffered a ruptured eardrum. My advice: demand to be registered in the Health Center (it shouldn't be a problem), just in case.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Select all that apply

• Apartment

Select all that apply

• Local Students