A hike up Arthur's Seat Past Review
By A student (biological engineering, Cornell University) - abroad from 01/14/2012 to 05/26/2012 with
University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned that I am adaptable and that I can deal with setbacks. I also learned that I love to travel. The experience was incredibly worthwhile. I hope to get back to Europe, but it also made me appreciate the US, while at the same time noticing areas where we can improve.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes are structured quite differently from ones at Cornell. Even the engineering classes have fewer problem sets and weekly assignments. The professors expect you to keep up with the material on your own. I found all of my classes very interesting and had some great professors. I found the exams easier than the ones that I am used to at Cornell, though classes were not easy by any means. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The International Student Centre at the University of Edinburgh is amazing. They host so many events during the semester from various regional nights to showcase the cultures of various areas of the world to trips around Scotland. The staff was very friendly and helpful. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a dorm at the Pollock Residence Halls, which was located about a mile from campus. It was interesting living with mostly Scottish freshers and having access to a dining hall was convenient, but getting a flat either through university housing or on your own is also a good option. The location of Pollock at the base of Arthur's Seat (a park and volcanic plug in the center of the city) was one of the best parts of living in Pollock. The rooms themselves are pretty nice, most have sinks which I miss! |
| * Food: |
Residence hall food was nothing to write home about. |
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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: |
Edinburgh is an incredibly safe city and they are very proud of that fact. |
| 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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| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
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
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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? | That I would have trouble making time for figuring out what I was going to do over the summer and that I had spent more time before I had left finalizing it. The uncertainty of what I would do when I got back turned into a stress for a bit of the program. I also wish I had realized how fast the program would go by! |
