Fun in Edinburgh Past Review
By Tiffany L (Computer Science, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/09/2015 to 12/19/2015 with
University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned that I am more independent than I thought I would be. I also learned that I cannot live somewhere that is cold for the majority of the year. But, in the end it was worthwhile. I got to meet some amazing people. had some fun adventures, and got the chance to travel throughout Europe.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Two of my classes were huge lectures and my two computer science classes were much smaller (30 kids). Definitely more independent coursework compared to Wellesley. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very helpful with everything! A bunch of programs to introduce you to Edinburgh as well as a great way to meet other study abroad kids. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My housing was nice but was ridiculously far from campus. It was a 40 min walk and a 20 min bus walk. It definitely affected how often I went to campus. |
| * Food: |
Self-catered |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Edinburgh is nice in that it isn't too big. You could probably explore the whole city in a week. That said, I felt myself befriend more study abroad kids than local Scottish people. In my classes, it also seemed like the majority of kids were study abroad. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare is free and accessible. Normally you could go through the campus office but my dorm was too far, so I needed to register with a local doctor. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt in danger at Edinburgh. I would walk home at late nights/early mornings and feel perfectly fine. That said, definitely don't go walking with headphones in. Just be aware of your surroundings. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
The pound to dollar conversion was not too great. Everything was more expensive. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Set up a local bank account so you can avoid conversion fees. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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? | I wish I knew how expensive Edinburgh would be and also how far my dorm was from campus. I would have considered different housing. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
