Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My experience was a lot tougher than I expected. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/23/2019 to 01/18/2019 with

University of Nottingham: Nottingham - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned about the different teaching styles that made me miss my home institution.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

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? No

I felt I had no support from the school when I was having mental health issues. Additionally, they did a terrible job of integrating study abroad students with each other and the local student body making it difficult to make friends

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? $30
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eat the dining hall food to save money

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
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • wide range of class subjects
  • availability of restaurants on campus
* What could be improved?
  • Mental health help
  • integrating study abroad students with each other
  • Better housing for study abroad students that does not place them with first years
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew about the lack of mental health support I would receive.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Introduction to Contemporary China
Course Department: Politics
Instructor: Jonathan Sullivan
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I thought the class was great. The only downside was the fact that there was so many topics taught in lecture but very few were talked about in our discussion sections
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

WWII&Social Change in Britain
Course Department: History
Instructor: Nick Thomas
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class was lacking so much it felt a brief review of various ideologies surrounding WWII rather than teaching you the history behind it
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Election Campaigns in the US
Course Department: Politics
Instructor: Annemarie Walter
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was by far my most challenging class abroad. So much more was demanded of me for the final exam than my other classes.
Credit Transfer Issues: