Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A lot of work but worth the effort! September 07, 2024

By (Psychology, Brandeis University) - abroad from 07/06/2024 to 08/16/2024 with

University of Cambridge, Pembroke College: Cambridge - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about drafting and formatting and improved my writing style.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

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:

I am GF and there were not a lot of options for me. Furthermore, the dinning hall was closed all day every Saturday for weddings, so I had to buy food or get takeaway.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

n/a

* 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)

Again, I had to pay more than I thought for food on Saturdays and when the dinning hall did not have options for me, plus expenses for toiletries, paper towels, etc.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100

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? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • N/A
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The people I met
  • The courses and professors
  • The small city life
* What could be improved?
  • Dinning experience
  • Activities offered on the weekends
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How many tourists there were around Cambridge, especially at Pembroke College because it is one of the few that is free to the public so we had a lot of strangers wandering around campus. Also, I wish I knew that I would have trouble with the dinning hall with my allergies and gluten intolerance prior so I could have planned better.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Sustainability
Course Department:
Instructor: Rob Wallach
Instruction Language: English
Comments: It was an engaging, thoughtful course. As someone who did not know much about environment studies prior, I learned a lot, and the professor was great at simplifying complex ideas to help students who do not study STEM to easily grasp certain concepts.
Credit Transfer Issues: