Program Reviews

When I first arrived to Edinburgh, the first thing that stroke me was how friendly and supportive the citizens were. It immediately built up the excitement I had to spending 6 weeks in the city. On top of that, the accommodation that we were assigned to couldn't have been more convenient: right off the Royal Mile; the historic heart of Edinburgh that is filled with tons of things to see and do. The landlord was also extremely helpful in terms of recommending which tours we could trust. The observation program was phenomenal: the other interns had different levels of experience and came from diverse background so it was great to share our insights and perspectives on distinct experiments that we conducted.

Additionally, since I wasn't yet familiar with the process of data analysis, the professors were very helpful in guiding us through the softwares to accurately conduct experiments, collect the data and then analyze it with specific guidelines.

Traveling around Edinburgh was quite easy and I highly recommend purchasing a bus card (Ridacard) as it significantly facilitated the daily journeys and allowed me to explore around Edinburgh. There's also a bus station that has daily trips to other cities such as Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee for decent prices.

There were tons of activities to keep me busy in the city after our days at the lab; from film festivals to free museums to dance classes...... Meeting people is then not so difficult and you can quickly feel like you belong to the city.

If you are a person that likes to walk around beautiful scenery, explore hidden gardens in addition to loving research: what are you waiting for? This is your chance to improve your skills and challenge yourself socially! Oh and keep in mind that wee means little :)

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect headed into this program, but I definitely got everything out of it that I was looking for. The central living location was awesome for exploring around Edinburgh & our landlord was incredibly friendly and accommodating. The internship itself blew me away and was exactly the sort of experience I was looking for. All the interns and I had a lot of independence in planning our schedule at the University and working with the staff to create our own unique plan. Being we all came from different amounts of research backgrounds, it was nice that the professors tailored each of our experiences to be more specifically suited for our individual needs while still covering a range of the research process (running participants, coding data, learning new software, developing study ideas, etc.). Being in Edinburgh as well was phenomenal because there were plenty of easy ways to travel allowing me to visit the highlands, Glencoe, Loch Ness, the Isle of Skye, Manchester, and I even took a weekend trip to Venice. I would definitely recommend this program to any individual who loves a high level of independence and is looking to further enhance their research abilities-- you will not be disappointed!

This program was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed getting to ride and the instructors were so nice and motivating. All of the horses were awesome, well trained and very well taken care of. We got to go to the local Walmart 1-2 times a week to buy anything we needed. I bought a lot of food items to make my own breakfast and sometimes dinner. There is a fully equipped kitchen with everything you need. Meeting the Scottish students living there and studying at oatridge was a great experience. Everyone is so nice and welcoming. I felt at home from the very beginning. I would recommend this program to any equine student looking for a great month of new experiences, learning from a different culture and wanting to have fun.

The most unique experience at Oatridge college are the riding classes that take place where the Scottish Equestrian Team rides. I really appreciate all the instructors advice and time. Louise, Sam, and Jillian were extremely helpful to accommodate our stay and make us feel at home. Overall, it was an amazing experience. I wish I had an extra week to visit the Scottish highlands. Edinburgh is about 30 minutes away making it simple enough to take a train or taxi. Additionally, once a week the group was taken to ASDA "Walmart" and you could purchase anything. My only issue was the food options ere limited because there was a lot of carbohydrates and not many vegetables.

This program was a great way to incorporate a love of horses and getting the chance to work with them one on one and the ability to travel and get a real taste for Scotland. I met some really wonderful people that I know I'll remember forever. The experience I got working one on one with horses gave me the chance to hone my skills as a rider and observe the similarities and differences between European and American riding. I would really recommend this program to anyone who likes horses

This program has been great. I am returning home with lots of memories and stories to tell. I love how hands on the program is. Compared to the classes I take in the States, this is much more hands on. My favorite part of the trip (non academic) was when a small group of us went into Edinburgh and climbed Arthur's Seat. This was a great bonding experience for all involved. The program has also had many opportunities. Visiting the various horse racing facilities was a fun adventure through the countryside.

I have really enjoyed this program. I was worried about taking 3 hour classes, but we were only in a classroom for the full time maybe once. We often went down to the yard to practice naming structures on the horses or practice equine massage. For fitness we also got hand on experience by getting to go see trainers yards, and it was interesting to see how everyone did things a little differently.
The area is also really nice. There are several public paths around the area that you can explore, and the closest town is just a short walk away. You can also be in Edinburgh with a short taxi and train ride. From Edinburgh you can either stay in the city or find ways to go all over the UK or even Europe. You get to stay in a quiet rural area while still being close to a big accessible city.

The staff are also all great. They have all been very kind and accommodating. If you ever had a problem or worry, they were there to help and sort things out for you.

This program is absolutely wonderful and I would recommend it to everyone. It was such a grand experience to study what I love in a beautiful foreign country. Yes, there are parts of the program that still need some improvement, but they are definitely working on it! I have taken anatomy a few times before this summer, so it was more of a review in that sense, but the fitness program was all new to me and I loved it! This anatomy class would be a great intro to a more in-depth equine anatomy class back in the States. Riding is wonderful and it is fun to be able to ride so many different horses. They do take it slow though, especially for those that have never ridden English before. So don't be afraid to ask to be on this horse, or work on something else the next time. I would also recommend bringing your own helmet. I didn't and have found that I really would have liked mine. However, it is inconvenient to take one on the plane and can be bulky.

The staff and professors are very friendly and willing to do anything to make your stay the absolute best it can be! There were a few minor housing problems, but they were fixed the minute we brought it up to the staff. The rooms are very nice, especially since you have your own bedroom and bathroom with a shared common room.

The campus, although small, has many trails and roads to explore. When you have a free evening (and you'll have many of those), trek your way up to Binny Craig and bask in the most beautiful view you'll get around campus.

For traveling on weekends, I would definitely recommend bringing some extra money for cab rides and the train. The train to Edinburgh is only 20 short minutes and pretty cheap roundtrip. Just remember that you need to get a cab to the station and back! It really isn't as much of a cost as some say it is, especially if you have 4 people in one cab. Also look into bus tours out of Edinburgh. Although they can be a bit much, if you find the perfect one, it is definitely worth it!

I would also recommend bringing your own computer. They have a few computer labs, but they close around 6pm, sometimes earlier. It is just a convenience to have your own to be able to look things up and type up your assignments. But you really don't need many school supplies other than a folder and some pencils/pens.

Honestly, this was the best experience I could have done abroad. Scotland is beautiful and you still get to immerse yourself in a completely different culture! I would definitely recommend this program, especially if you are passionate about horses and looking to have a fun time while still learning.

I really loved the riding aspect of the program and getting to know the horses in the yard. The instructors were very helpful and really wanted students to succeed. Students have to make an effort to get off campus and find things to do around the area, but when you do, there are many fun things to experience. I learned so much about equine anatomy and fitness, and I am so happy that I decided to participate in this program. Great program overall!

I had an incredible experience through Adelante! They organized all the details of my internship and placed me at Clinica Cemtro where I had the privilege to work alongside some of the best surgeons! The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming and I found myself working 12 hour work days because of how much I loved being in the hospital setting. The required amount of hours is 4-5 but I was able to make my own schedule and choose the days I wanted to come in. I was able to scrub in surgeries, not only watch but participate, attend consults, and through this I feel as though it has prepared me and given me a close insight of what it would be like in the medical career.

Aside from the internship, the best suggestion I could provide would be to live with Spanish roomates as opposed to Adelante candidates. It gives you a chance to branch out, practice your Spanish, and explore so much more!