Studying Abroad Will Change Your Life Past Review
By rachel.r.mauro (Berea College) - abroad from 02/05/2014 to 06/08/2014 with
University of Stirling: Stirling - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Wow. Okay, big question. I can't even begin describe how much I learned from my study abroad experience. I gained a lot of exposure to other countries/ cultures, traveled extensively, and performed well in new academic and social environments. I grew in courage and self-confidence. Now, I feel like I can travel just about anywhere and be okay navigating new systems. So to answer the question, yes it was definitely worthwhile and I would do it again.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Stirling is a very good university academically. The grading system is different than what I'm used to in the states, and that made it more convenient for study abroad and traveling. There is a bigger emphasis on individual work in the UK so it's really up to the student to decide how much they want to put in or not. I didn't feel that it was particularly difficult academically, but all of my courses were interesting and challenging at least intellectually. I had fantastic professors and really enjoyed the courses. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The international affairs office was always very helpful, but the study abroad director wasn't any good. There really wasn't any orientation for international students, and the sessions that were provided could have been better. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I really didn't like where I was housed. I lived off campus at Union Street which is a set of really dingy apartments where you have to pay for utilities. It's really expensive so my flatmates and I tried to use as little electricity as possible. Most of the international students were housed in this building so don't expect to live with Scottish students here. I would recommend living with a host family to get the fullest study abroad experience possible. |
| * Food: |
Not really sure what to comment here. There isn't a meal plan at Stirling. I shopped at the local grocery store which was 5 minutes away from my apartment. If you live on campus, you'll need to hop a bus to and fro the grocery store which is manageable. I personally lived living closer to the city centre and taking a bus to the university and back each day (or whenever depending on your class schedule). |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Honestly, it's really up to you and how much you choose to get involved. I joined the Mountaineering Club and was somewhat involved with the Christian Union on campus, but I also did a lot of traveling in four months (6 different countries). My advice is plan your traveling wisely, but realize that it's probably going to be a choice between the two. I loved what I did, but I would have liked to be more involved at the university. I met some really cool people there. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Very good-- health care is free. |
| * Safety: |
I never had a problem at Stirling and always felt like it was safe however there were some incidents that occurred in the town. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
I didn't have a problem, but I was also pretty frugal. I can't drink so that saved me money there. I was able to visit a bunch of different countries and still comes back with about $700 dollars so I'd say it really is doable. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50 or less |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't jump at every opportunity that comes down the pike. Sometimes it's best to wait and see what your options are and then choose where to invest your money. I realized where I could save money after being there for a few weeks. If you travel, book things in advance because this will save you money, but keep in mind that cheap flights are nonrefundable. Buy a 15-25 railcard if you plan to take the train a lot. This will save you 1/3 on fares. |
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 had known what my housing situation would have been like. I had a very difficult time living with some of the girls in my flat. They were pretty crazy. I would have preferred to live with a host family, but then perhaps I wouldn't have been as involved with other students. I think a different housing situation would have made my experience 100% positive. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
