Leaving home can be scary, but the University of Edinburgh is quickly becoming my home away from home. As an exchange student, I’ve spent the past few weeks adjusting to my classes and meeting new people. Even though I’m now a junior (a third-year student) in college, it’s almost like being a freshman (a first-year student) all over again! I’m learning more about how to navigate the differences between the University of Edinburgh and Dartmouth every day, and I’m excited to share with you what I’ve learned so far.
One of the biggest differences between the University of Edinburgh and Dartmouth is my classes. At Dartmouth, I’m used to small classes of about ten to 20 students, but here in Edinburgh, my classes have at least 50 people! Since the classes in Edinburgh are much bigger, the teaching style is different, too. The courses here are often lecture-style, which means that professors teach for the whole class period while students listen. Back at Dartmouth, since the classes are smaller, students often ask the professors questions and discuss the material with each other. What’s your favorite way to learn? Do you prefer listening or discussing?
Another lesson I’ve learned at the University of Edinburgh is how important it is to get outside of my comfort zone.
