I was extremely honored to be selected as a Fulbright Summer Institute participant at the University of Sussex Summer School. I took a Field Biology course with Professor Sarah McKenzie, and it was one of the best science courses I've ever taken. It was short (only 4 weeks) but the instruction was of incredibly high quality. There was just enough in-class work/lecture to prepare you for the field, and then the majority of the learning was hands on – with a kind, supportive, knowledgeable, fun, and passionate professor. We were able to travel to many different locations around the Brighton area to learn about 4 different habitats, and I was able to see and experience sites and beautiful communities that I would have never seen if traveling for leisure. The class had just enough work/assignments to keep you busy but not stressed and there was still plenty of free time to explore England. Lastly, Professor McKenzie was so caring and attentive and planned a special excursion so that I could better explore my passions in agriculture.
I absolutely LOVED my U Sussex trip to the Harry Potter Set/Studio! The Bath trip was also really fun and the staff were kind, upbeat, and easy going but organized. There was an opening celebration/party for us at the beginning of our stay, and I also believe there was an ending party too - what a welcoming community! The campus was very pretty is a natural way with beautiful wildflower meadows and trails across campus to exercise and explore. I took advantage of the free workout classes at the gym, and they were engaging and challenging. While I had some troubles with homesickness while I was there, I really did love the UK. I loved the practicality of public transportation, the amazing history and gardens, and the overall ease of society. I would DEFINITELY recommend this program for any student interested in experiencing a new way of life while expanding their educational horizons.
What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Definitely read travel books before coming so that you know where you want to do. 4 weeks is a short time and you don't want to spend your days looking at what you want to do - just go do it! Also, compared to what you might hear about the rest of England, Southern England is pretty warm. I didn't need many sweaters or long pants. Shorts and Tshirts/capris with a jacket for the evenings is what I needed most of the time.
Make a Paypal account and use it for buying bus tickets and doing laundry. For some reason, some of the applications wouldn't accept my credit card and billing address (from the US) but PayPal worked!
Response from University of Sussex
Thanks for reviewing us, Marco! Isn't it great that you made some lasting friends from your time here, which is more common than people might think! We'd love to welcome you back for a masters, and hope to see you again on campus sometime!