I am in need of advisement!

[exsequar]

O flist! O magnificent, multi-national, diverse-perspectived flist!

I am trying to decide where I want to study abroad.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to do this program called TASSEP (Trans-Atlantic Science Student Exchange Program) because it costs SO MUCH LESS than normal Study Abroad programs, and it's exactly what I want in that you're just enrolled in a foreign school as a normal student.

So the choices are rather limited, both by schools that participate in this program and ones where they speak, y'know, English ;)

In a nutshell, it comes down to these three choices:

Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland
Lancaster University in Lancaster, England
University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland

Now, my lovely European friends (and anyone else that happens to know anything!), tell me what you know about these schools - reputations, strengths, anything about the cities they're in... anything that will help me to make a more informed decision. They all HAVE Biochemistry programs (that's my major) so that isn't really a concern, but if you know anything about how strong they are in the sciences that would help too!

Aaaaaand... go! :D

Comments

[the5thmarauder.livejournal.com]

...........

Do you... what you... that means...

DOES THIS MEAN THAT MY ANNE IS COMING TO STAY NEAR(ish) ME!??!?!?!??!

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

HI YES IT DOES DARLING YES YES YES!

*leaps upon you and smothers with love*

Do you have any more coherent opinions to offer? LOL

[nymeria.livejournal.com]

Lancaster's out in the boonies, afaik (says the Londoner). And I've never been to Scotland, but apparently Glasgow's not too bad; no Edinburgh, but okay anyway.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the input! ^_^

akjsfdhkjdhf this is my first time using this icon so i have to squee LOOK AT DEAN'S BAMBI EYES OMFG.

[ellieptical.livejournal.com]

DON'T DO LANCASTER! Seriously! I looked there, I really thought it'd be fantastic the course looked fab. But the place (uni) it's out of the town, which is lovely. Is just HORRENDOUS. I know 3 people who have gone there, and each one says it's awful, the libary is useless, the staff are useless and it's a thoroughly depressing campus. Strathclyde or Trinity is the way to go (and personally I'd say Trinity) I've looked at both.

[ellieptical.livejournal.com]

I've been to both Dublin and Glasgow (obv) recreationally as well as to look at uni's and both are beautiful, I prefer glasgow because I love Scotland.They're both very cosmopolitan cities, Glasgow has a good transport system. Housing etc in both is fairly expensive now, as they're both on the rise. Trinity has a huge historical importance, as a uni. Also try looking at their websites. Strathclyde (http://www.strath.ac.uk/) and Trinity (http://www.tcd.ie/). A lot of people see Strathclyde as a 'poorer cousin' to The University of Glasgow.

[flamingkitten.livejournal.com]

trinity is definitely the way to go...strathclyde and lancaster don't come close in the university rankings i don't think. plus it's DUBLIN, such an amazing and beautiful city.

you'll have so much fun on your exchange program! i'm on one right now and i don't regret it for a second.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the input hon! I'm definitely leaning towards Trinity.

[fragglebo.livejournal.com]

I know nothing about which uni is best unfortunately. I feel inclined to say come to England just because it's where I live but I know quite a few people who are enjoying uni life in Scotland. Ireland is supposed to be very pretty but I have never been. It all sounds very exciting. I hope you enjoy it all wherever you choose to go.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I'll have a blast anywhere, but right now I'm leaning towards Dublin :) We should totally meet up while I'm over there! I know so many people in England, I'll definitely come down at some point (I'm there a whole year!)

[concise.livejournal.com]

I'd say Ireland. England is so...generic. DON'T HURT ME FOR SAYING THAT ANYONE! I LOVE ENGLAND AS MUCH AS THE NEXT PERSON!

But Ireland has the diversity and the accent- Well, i know people from all three of those locations and personally, i'd go with ireland.

[theaeblackthorn.livejournal.com]

(sidenote: one of the choices was scotland?)

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

lol, I know exactly what you mean! Which is why I never really considered England when I was just thinking about studying abroad abstractly without any specific programs in mind. I feel like I already know so much about the English that it wouldn't be such a novel experience. But Ireland! So exciting.

Thanks for the input :D

[theaeblackthorn.livejournal.com]

THIS IS MY LOGIC:

Lascaster is where my mums exboyfriend is and is hateful. But it's the closest to me. (Totally a factor here :P)

Glasgow is where I briefly considered going, mainland, which is a plus, and scotland, which is nice. But cold. brightonsnotascoldyouknow

Anyway.

Dublin? You'd be water away from me! And have a totally different currency. Other than that I know nothing about it.

Yes, mememe is a big factor in my your life. XP

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Oh sas. You darling girl *laughs* I don't think you're going to be my deciding factor, I sorry :P If I go to Dublin I will totally come and visit you multiple times (or you can come visit me!) because I'll be there a whole YEAR. We could holiday together or something! *twirls!*

[theaeblackthorn.livejournal.com]

We could, but the point being I'm totally on my placement year which means I'm not really where I usually am and am currently trying to figure out what industry I want to work in, what type of job, and where I want to work.

*headdesk*

It's not fun.

[jamesinclair.livejournal.com]

If I were going, Id chose Trinity. Its right in the heart of Dublin, so there are always fun things to do. One of your complaints about college now is that its not very urban yeah? Dublin is a fantastic city, very nice and friendly. A bit expensive though... make sure you know how much housing will cost you, and dont forget that youll be eating expensive food.

As for Lancaster....going from one lancaster to another is just weird.

As for visiting england, youll find extremely cheap airfare with Ryanair from dublin to all major british cities. EXTREMELY cheap.
Just check their website.
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/
Youll note the word free. And no, theres no catch (I flew them).

[mrscutedean.livejournal.com]

Ooooh nice choice. My friend's at Lancaster Uni and lets just say I went to stay with her in June and we went out and partied and didn't get in till like 6 am, it's a lovely little campus with a real communal and country feel not far from the sea.

I did study abroad and ended up in Oregon from Aberystwyth in Wales, it rocked I recommend Lancaster highly but all of your choices seem cool.

[glamorous-nymph.livejournal.com]

Come to Ireland! I go to college up in Belfast which is like two hours away on the bus from Dublin or something ^_^

Also Trinity is one of the best universities in the world; it's on a level with Oxford and Cambridge. DUDE.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Oh hee, awesome!! We would totally hang out all the time and it would ROCK like a ROCKING THING *beams*

Oh wow. I knew it was good, but WOW.

Now I'm all nervous about my ability to get in!

[glamorous-nymph.livejournal.com]

WE COULD HAVE FUCKING SPN WEEKENDS, DUDE.

You can totally get in.

Do it! Doooooooo eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!

♥!!

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

*flailyhands* OMG WE SO COULD!!! Especially since I'll need to download it over there (angst!) and that would just make it ALL BETTER and SDKFJHSKDFHJ *leaps upon you* YAY!