Independence, Friendship, Adventure! Past Review
By A student (English, Presbyterian College) - abroad from 09/15/2015 to 12/12/2015 with
University of Wales - Trinity Saint David: Carmarthen - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was definitely worthwhile. I gained a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities to take care of myself. I had to learn to be independent in a totally new way, but when I was able to, I experienced an incredible amount of joy and satisfaction. At home it is easy to get from place to place, you just take the car and go and you have the luxury of a fully functioning phone. In the UK, it involved learning to read bus time tables, the tube map, and train times; it meant planning ahead and taking a map because my phone didn't work without WiFi. It was totally different from anything I had ever experienced before but I loved every minute!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Excellent Library resources; engaging and caring tutors |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I was on the Lampeter Campus and meeting face to face with people from the International Office seemed nearly impossible. If I ever needed just to drop by the office during the day, they were literally never in because they had to split time between other campuses. We could schedule appointments, but if something came up short notice, it would just have to wait. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Not the nicest but overall met all of my needs. Would have been too crowded however, if the hall had been filled with seven residents. Since it was only half full there was enough space |
| * Food: |
I did all of my own cooking and loved it! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Very safe |
| 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) |
The only time budgeting was tricky was when I was traveling but even then it was doable. On a weekly basis, I spent around $30 on food/personal expenses per week. However, I was pretty careful about not spending extra money or eating out too often to keep costs down so that I could take trips. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | usually under $30 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cook your own food. You can eat good and healthy food for cheaper than you can eat out. Don't throw food away or let fresh vegetables go bad. Keep track of what's in your fridge and use it all. Get creative. Make out a plan of what meals you are cooking that week and only buy the ingredients that you need to make those dishes. Stay in hostels when you travel. It's cheaper and if you find decent ones, the experience can be way cooler than staying by yourself! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | none |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | I attended free Welsh lessons offered in the community with some of my friends. I may not have learned an incredible amount in 3 months, but it was really interesting and a great way to connect with local culture and heritage. |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | You most likely need far less than you pack. You can get by on less and no one will judge you. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
