Travel and Friends > Mediocre Classes Past Review
By A student (Anthropology., The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 01/16/2014 to 06/16/2014 with
Uppsala University: Uppsala - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Travelling and meeting new people from around the world was the best thing about this trip. You meet people that force you be the best you can be, and who are okay with you and love you when can't be.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes, though very interesting, were not challenging in the slightest, which was a bit of a disappointment. The grading system was a bit confusing as to how/why particular grades were given. Resources for class material were scarce and difficult to obtain, to which students were told that it was their job to obtain one of 2 copies from the library of out-of-print materials. Overall, classes were interesting, but the educational factors of this program were the least attractive reason to do it. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The people at the hotel were a bit rude throughout and the laundry machines broke often, but nothing too serious. |
| * Food: |
Expensive to eat out, but cooking with friends was the best way to go. |
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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? |
I never needed any healthcare-related things. |
| * Safety: |
I walked around at 1am with my headphones on--as a girl. I've never felt so safe in a city. |
| 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) |
Sweden is expensive, and doubly so if one wants to travel. I had hoped to come back with a decent amount of savings, but that was difficult. Housing was cheaper than at home, if one lives alone, but food is definitely more expensive. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't panic in the beginning and think you need a bunch of fancy items or fancy food or clothes. Wait it out a week or so; you'll probably find it in your corridor or from a friend or the secondhand shops. |
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
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
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? | Don't panic |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Swedish Literature |
| Course Department: | ABM |
| Instructor: | Tobias Berglund |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This class was, to put it nicely, infuriating. I had to take it when I did not get a place in another course, which was fine as I really enjoy literature classes. The professor, however, was unprofessional and at times seemed barely knowledgeable about his own class topic. I have never before had a literature professor who both dumbs down every class discussion to a "moral of the story," nor a professor who prefers to talk over his students. Most classes were a guessing game to finish his sentences; one class period the students were literally just yelling out random words in order to attempt to finish his sentence; he laughed as this happened, as though this is how college lectures are meant to be taught. I've never felt so belittled by a professor before; I participated less than I would have back home due to normally being talked over half way through a thought, or being belittled into silence. Fortunately the literature was good and worth the read, so I'm not entirely frustrated that I paid money for this class. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
