Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The best decision I made while I was in college. Past Review

By (Computer Science, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/12/2015 to 05/20/2015 with

University of Edinburgh: Edinburgh - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned the value of understanding other cultures, the different ways that other universities teach and other students in other countries learn and study, and how different my experience as a student could be at another school. I got to travel to so many places I wouldn't have been able to. It was incredibly worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 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:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* 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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent around $100 per week and was able to eat out about twice per week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you have a kitchen, don't be afraid to use it! It was much more cost effective to cook in than eat out.

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
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International 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?
  • The city: Edinburgh, Scotland
  • My classes
  • The people I met
* What could be improved?
  • The ease of getting my grades transferred back to my home university
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It's good to be frugal, but I wish I had gone out to eat more. I can cook food for myself for the rest of my life, so I would have liked to explore the local restaurants a little 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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'