My flat, in Robertson's Close, Edinburgh Past Review
By Alexandra M (Economics., Wellesley College) for
University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I am really happy I went abroad because it gave me the opportunity to have a different college experience and at the same time give me a chance to realize what I appreciate about my Wellesley college experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
| The term and year this program took place: | Spring 2010 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I didn't find the courses I took as engaging or interesting as past courses I have taken at Wellesley but I did find the professors to be very intelligent and knowledgeable in their areas of studies. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was in a self catered flat with 3 other study abroad students. I was happy to be in self catered accommodation because I had heard the the dining halls in the dorms were not good. My flat, in Robertson's Close, was in a good location and close to the school. Only first years live in University accommodation so it is unlikely that you will meet students your age in the dorms, except for other study abroad students. <br /><br /> The location was great - close to the train station, the Royal Mile, supermarkets, and about a 5 minute walk to George Square campus. The flat was pretty bare when I arrived but I was able to buy cheap kitchen and household items a bargain store nearby. The accommodation manager or RD was really helpful and would address any problems with the flat - burned out light bulb, broken stove etc., promptly. |
| * Food: |
In terms of going out to eat British/pub food can get old very quickly but Edinburgh has a lot of good ethnic restaurants that are worth checking out. I am a vegetarian and had no problem finding food to cook in the supermarkets. The supermarkets are small however so there isn't a lot of variety and selection as in American supermarkets. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I really enjoyed traveling around Scotland and also having time during the semester to travel to other countries in Europe. I found that I had a lot more free time during the week than at Wellesley which I used to do some sightseeing around the city and take part in various cultural activities. |
| * 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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It is sometimes hard to remember that the dollar is worth less than the pound and since prices can be so similar in the UK (to US prices) it is difficult to keep in mind the exchange rate. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
I studied abroad in the United Kingdom - there is no trouble communicating in the country. Of course the UK has some different vocab words and some different spellings of words but other than that, there should be no problem. |
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
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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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