Decent School Life, Amazing Social Life Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I found that the classes at Sussex University are great because the classroom setting is so small that is allows students to interact with the teachers at a more personal level. However, both my classes involved a lot of homework, which made it difficult since focus can be easily lost when traveling on weekends. The grading system was somewhat fair, but the transfer of grades into UC grades is extremely different.

On-site administration of your program

I liked how the dorm I stayed at had an Resident Advisor on the ground floor 24 hours a day. Everyone on campus is extremely friendly and usually willing to help if asked. The campus is also very small, which made everything easier to access, and it was nice having a post office and ATM nearby. The busses were very useful and convenient as well, as they run every few minutes and drop you off right in front of the dorms. It was a great experience being in Brighton as a Sussex student for two months.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Each dorm is a good size and made with convenience with a sink and mirror area. It was nice that they had student workers briefly vacuum rooms once a week, and the kitchen located in each hall was decent. However, I was put in a situation where I switched rooms three times, and the last room that I decided to settle in had a family of spiders living in a hole located at a corner of my ceiling. I did not like how the windows were completely open with no screens, because there was no A/C and in the summer, it's nice having the window open- that was hard though, because opening windows would inevitably be inviting mosquitos, moths, and flies in. I had to buy an outlet convertor because the universal one did not work in the dorms. Otherwise, the dorms were very decent and suitable for temporary living. I felt safe and it was nice having a room all to myself.

Food sucked the most, because not only is everything expensive, but the food variety is also very limited. I felt like I ate sandwiches everyday on campus, because that's all they really have, besides the nasty Thai food at the pub. There is however a good variety of sandwiches and salads for vegetarians. The quantity is also very small in comparison to American servings, which is probably a good thing, but something an American student should be notified of. One thing I found helpful and convenient was the mini market downstairs of the dorm.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I remember going on a pub crawl with other students and RAs, which was pretty awesome because that would never happen in the U.S. or on UC campuses. There were so many bars all in one area, so everything was of walking distance. The nightlife in Brighton is the best if you like to drink at pubs/bars or to club. Everything is right by the beach, whether you're looking for a restaurant, a mall, a club, etc... absolutely perfect for young people.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't find safety to be a problem, although that was one of my biggest fears. Everyone just needs to be aware of his or her surroundings and carry belongings in a safe manner. Always be cautious, and it'll be fine. Also, many people get very wasted at night, so don't start any fights! People are usually nice though, so it probably won't be a problem. I would recommend students to stick with a group of people or at least one other person when going out at night.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Dorm

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• N/A

• the people I met
• the night life
• the city I stayed in

• food variety/price
• dorm building maintenance
• class workload