The Complete Opposite of Middlebury! Past Review

By Alejandra G (Psychology, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/11/2015 to 06/19/2015 with

University of Nottingham: Nottingham - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned a lot about myself as a person and as a student but I do believe that I didn't take much away academically. This makes me nervous for my senior year at Middlebury as the academic environment is much more demanding and rigorous.

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	They were not very involved once we were placed in dorms. Perhaps this took me aback because I arrived at Nottingham from a small college.
* 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?	Yes! to British healthcare
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No

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?	$150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Save as much as you can beforehand!

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 International 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	learning about British culture seeing how a large research university differs from an institution such as Middlebury Meeting amazing people (and the love of my life)
* What could be improved?	more warning about the academic differences a better cohort with other students a form of housing during the long holidays (particularly Easter which is 1 month in the UK)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I knew how independent I would have to be. The RAs were not involved, as well as the academic advisors

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.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Addiction and the Brain
Course Department:	Psychology
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	The teachers changed every week so it never felt like a class that I was absorbed in.
Credit Transfer Issues:	Have not done this yet.