Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Getting lost and finding my way back home Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/11/2016 to 12/16/2016 with

University of East Anglia: Norwich - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I really grew as an individual in a way I did not feel I had access to at Middlebury. It was much more independent and liberating in a city as opposed to a small town

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Not as rigorous as Middlebury, but it gave time to explore interests and the culture, as well as the city.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Study abroad at UEA was helpful when needed!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The village is an absolutely lovely place to live and is a quite convenient location.

* Food:

Loved cooking for myself and managing my own funds.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

All the friends I made abroad were from my host country, not other Americans or International students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had several issues my first semester abroad and the health center was easily accessible, and receiving prescription medication was inexpensive and fast.

* Safety:

I felt safer in the UK than I ever did at Middlebury.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I did it all over again and chose the same program. I was so happy at UEA that upon my return to the US I promptly called Middlebury and asked if it would be possible for me to return abroad to UEA for Autumn 2016.

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)

The stipend provided as a result of the direct exchange is enough to barely cover a students basic food necessities. It does not account for seeing a doctor, buying cooking ware, feminine and hygiene products, transport of any kind around the uni/city.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? approximately 70 pounds per week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Students are highly recommended to have a fairly large personal stipend for activities and emergencies.

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

  • 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? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • time to explore interests
  • structure of uni athletics in the UK
  • playing for the women's football team
* What could be improved?
  • counsel on class registration
  • middlebury network of students there
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how many personal expenses there would be.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Race and Racism in the United States
Course Department: American Studies
Instructor: Becky Avila
Instruction Language: English
Comments: It was an excellent class primarily because of the small seminar nature of it. It was quite reading heavy but all the material we interacted with was relevant and informative.
Credit Transfer Issues: I had no issues.