caithream ([personal profile] caithream) wrote2007-01-04 09:04 pm
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After a long time of pondering, scrutinizing, weighing, and angsting, I think I finally feel a pull to a decision and I feel pretty well content about it.

I think I'm going to ditch USF's summer study abroad program and instead go to Kingston University in England. Cambridge would be all kinds of wonderful, but, well. You want a pro and con list? I've got a pro and con list.

Truth be told, I wasn't sold at all the USF's Cambridge program. It's expensive, $4200 for a three week stay, not including airfair, books, tuition, or any sort of travel pass, and I'm pretty sure my Bright Future's scholarship doesn't cover summer study abroad programs. Kingston, however, is £1,900, roughly $3700 for a full month's stay, and it covers tuition, accomodations, a travel pass for the London underground, and other things here and there. They're giving out two scholarships for about $700, but even without it, Kingston is still cheaper than going through my home turf.

And, I don't know. I just kind of get this feeling. I'm leaning towards Kingston, have been for a while actually, so I just feel I have to go with my gut. The accomodations are all kinds of awesome, as is the surrounding area. It's only 25 minutes from London, easily accessible by the underground.

As soon as I talk to my advisor, which should be sometime next week, I'm filling out an application. Only 130 students are selected, I think, so, you know, crossing my fingers and all.

What I would LOVE is any and all advice anyone can give me on studying abroad, or, heck, going to the UK in general. This is a big time first for me, and I tend to get more than a little panicky in situations I can't control. Being on my own in another city, on another continent... yeah. Thinking about getting $3700 by May 20th pretty much gives me indigestion, but lkajdl;akjsdlk! I can do it. I have to. I want to do this so bad it's killing me.


My mom makes me have serious lols, as she wants me to download Killing In the Name Of by Rage Against the Machine for her. I DRAW THE LINE AT ANARCHY PATCHES, MOM.

SOON: The Office and NEXT WEEK: I'm die. WEEEEE.

[identity profile] falterfrei.livejournal.com 2007-01-05 05:37 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, awesome!! I am so excited for you! I hope that you get selected, and I know you'll have an awesome experience there. ($3700 sounds like a lot, but if you save enough, you'd be surprised how it adds up. Assuming you have four months before the beginning of May, you only have to save up/earn about $925 per month. I can think of a hundred and one ways to get that kind of money, especially if you tell people you are trying to earn the money to study abroad.)

Way to go! You'll have to tell us all about it!

[identity profile] caithream.livejournal.com 2007-01-05 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
Eeee, thank you! Since I don't have car payments or rent or anything like that to pay, I should be fairly good at getting the money. I've already got around $1500 in the bank as it stands, and if I throw in the pity factor with my parents, they might help out a bit. So! I'm really excited. :D ♥!!

Also! I read the short story you sent me, and Char!! I do hope you're sending out your little gems to places for publishing. I really loved it. I love how it all clicked and came together at the end; kind of made me grin like an idiot. If you've got any more lying around, I'd love to see you post some more!