Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A once in a lifetime, absolutely incredible experience! Past Review

By (Psychology, University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 01/08/2015 to 07/19/2015 with

University of Birmingham: Birmingham - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Studying abroad forces you out of your comfort zone immediately and constantly. It's not always comfortable, but it's so incredibly worth it. The confidence you gain and the lessons you learn about all of the things you are capable of are priceless. Getting through difficult situations with ease and confidence will be a side effect of studying abroad. So many important life skills can be learned through opportunities like this.

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.

Classes were interesting but not rigorous. There was a lot of optional work and independent study rather than graded assignments that needed to be turned in regularly. Classes were worth attending and professors were engaged and interesting.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

organization was poor, signing up for classes was extremely stressful and while the people who helped were very friendly they were not helpful apart from a very select few.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

It was great to live with people who are from the school rather than others who are studying abroad. I loved the experience of living with people from Birmingham. The accommodation wasn't overly nice but it was perfect for cheap living and meeting some amazing people.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Living with people from there you were completely immersed in the culture, it was impossible to not learn something new everyday.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you plan to travel, there are definitely cheap ways to do so but you will need a bit extra, but if you mostly want to stay at school and be really involved with campus activities and school friends money outside program costs shouldn't be a huge inconvenience.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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?
  • The people and the travel
* What could be improved?
  • The assistance provided by the host university
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Worrying about the unknown is a waste of your time; when the time comes to face difficult situations you will prove stronger than you think and that's when you will truly grow as a person.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.