Study in the sun (University of Florida)

Member Name: TigerTiger

Product:	University of Florida
Date:	18/07/00 (109 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Experience a new culture, cheap to live, fantastic facilites, become Miss/Mr popular overnight!

Disadvantages: Educational level a bit worrying, homesickness, have to be 21 to go out and drink.

You think us UK students have an easy life...wrong! Never have i been more appreciative of the English education system than when i studied at the uni of south florida for a semester! I have to say from the start though that it was one of the best experiences of my life and if you have the opportunity to do it and can afford to, then go for it as you will not look back.

Wherever you go abroad you have to get over the culture shock and i think we believe we are more americanised than we actually are. I was walking around in a state of shock for weeks until i finally settled in. The first shock was having to share a room, this was so alien to me as i had never shared before. It was a better experience than i thought it would be, as being an international student means that you have limited luggage and if you get along you can use their comnputer, hifi etc, very handy!! Another thing that shocked me was how big everything was. The uni campuses in general in the states are the size of one of our counties (well nearly), they have superb sports faciliites, so many eateries and social areas and i will never complain at the size of classes again in the uk, as you are def. just a number in the US. I was concerned generally with the level of education. I had one day with lectures and that was all and then i got to lay in the sun for the rest of the week by the pool near my accomodation. Ok that was great, but i have to admit to being at somewhat of a disadvantage when it came returning to the uk and doing my final year. They were drawing graphs still whilst we were whizzing them off on stats packages, they were covering material that i did at a level and what they classed as assignments was somewhat a joke.

I think in this situation though you have to think that yes the reason for going is education, but really it is about a lot more. It is experiencing a different way of life, and believe me it is different. One of the funniest things about studying abroa
d as a whole was how you become the token english person!! You go to parties and people want to talk to you and the funniest thing i ever heard was when someone came up to me and said "say something in english to me"!!!

Overall Florida is a pretty great place to be at uni, although the whole Disney thing wears off after a while and Tampa where the uni is situated is a great place with lots going on.

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