Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The best summer of my life! Past Review

By (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., University of Northern Iowa) - abroad from 07/13/2013 to 08/10/2013 with

University of Stirling: Scotland - International Summer School

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
This trip was definitely worthwhile. I learned a lot about myself and what I can do when on my own. I also gained some amazing friends and I benefited educationally. The classes were good and interesting but I still had plenty of time to explore Scotland.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were very interesting and discussions were good. And though I feel like not much was expected, I did learn a lot.

* 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?

I didn't have experience with healthcare in Scotland, but it seemed easily accessible and my program provided information about it.

* Safety:

I felt very safe in Stirling, and the University of Stirling is one of the UK's safest universities.

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)

If you don't take big weekend trips and don't eat out often, you can make the trip cheaper. However, it will still be expensive, as the British pound is worth a lot more than the US dollar.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $250
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eat in your flat; book weekend travel early for cheaper rates; if you have the time, take the bus instead of the train

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • The people I met
  • The scenery and history
  • The free trips
* What could be improved?
  • The class times. One went late into the afternoon so it was hard to coordinate trips with people in that class, as most classes were in the morning/early afternoon.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I would want to study abroad longer. I choose to do just one block of the program instead of both because I didn't know if I want to be away from home that long, but now I really wish I had done both blocks.

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 Adventurer
The 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.