Awsome experience! Past Review
By Isaac D (Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, University of California - San Diego / UCSD) - abroad from 06/28/2015 to 08/01/2015 with
UC San Diego Global Seminars: Edinburgh - Enlightenment, Revolution, and Romanticism in Edinburgh
I got to experience a different culture for an extended amount of time, something that I loved and will more than likely do again.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 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 |
Excellent. The staff was available and more than willing to help with anything and everything, education related or other. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The flats they provided us seemed new, but after living there for a few days, things started to fall apart. The chairs, notably, couldn't stand straight, the water boiler blew the fuses every time it was plugged in, the plumbing in both the kitchen and some of the rooms was crap and the door was into the flat was broken. In addition, there was nowhere to dispose of trash, which the personnel said they would take care of in they're weekly flat cleanings. However, the service was extremely random and sometimes didn't show at all, so the trashed piled up since there was no place given to us to throw it away. Finally, the complex guaranteed wifi in the price, but it was down the first day. They said they would have it fixed in a few days but after 5 weeks they still didn't and we had to rely on Ethernet wires which was highly inconvenient. I do not blame IFSA for the housing, from the short time they must have spent in the flats they couldn't tell how bad it was. I just highly recommend they do not use these apartments again. |
| * Food: |
Food was not included in our program fees, so we had to rely on Edinburgh good, which is excellent. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
Edinburgh is an expensive city and I didn't make the best budget plan. I had a larger budget available than most, but I know that some people struggled towards the end of the program. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 75 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you have a more limited amount of money, it is possible to live off of it, but careful planning is a must. |
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? | Nothing really. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
