Type of housing: off-campus university owned appartments

Arranged by: Host university

If returning, I would choose: off-campus university appartments

Why? This accomodation doesn't require you to take the on campus meal plan (which i find very limiting and expensive). Living in your own appartment also means you have your own living room!

Personal comments:
Santa Ynez appartments are in my view the best student accomodation available. The appartments are massive and include a lovely kitchen and living room and huge balcony. The village is a quick 10min cycle from campus. The rent is extremely reasonable and includes utilities and village facilities (such as the pool hall, the gym, the study hall etc). And there are lovely resident assistants who organise community BBQs, and drop by often to just to say hello. I highly recommend Santa Ynez for those of you who like independent living (i.e. cooking for yourself and having your own appartment) and enjoy the idea of village living!

Describe host city: Students equally interact with the local and student community

Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment

Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment

Nightlife: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment

Personal comments:
oh! everywhere! Downtown: Ruby's diner in Paseo Neuvo mall (best shakes ever!), the art museum (free entry on thursday nights), Palazzio (cool pasta place--must go for any SB visit), Velvet Jones- nice clubbing, Q's -- techno Goleta Beach: the beachside cafe-- gorgeous seafood! Fairview: China Seafood Restaurant-- $5.95 lunch buffets excellent value for the poor starving student! the Outback nextdoor is excellent for the occasional birthday splurge-- baby back ribs...mmMMmmm

Course recommendations:
A lot of the courses I took were seminars but were really far too big to foster discussion amongst students. There was not enough interaction and thoughtful discussion as you would find in smaller tutorials.

Personal comments:
The ten week term meant mid-terms were sometimes conducted only a few weeks into a course which seems pointless in discovering how the student is understanding the course.

Language of instruction: English

Main source of funding:
Family

Other sources of funding:
university

Work opportunities:
I worked during my study abroad experience

Personal spending habits:
I wanted to see more of the States while I was there so I spent more on travel. I think I also went out more (evenings are much more hospitable in SB than in the be-puddled alleys of York!)

Travel, Nightlife: was more expensive than at home.

Food, Overall, Housing: was the same price as at home.

Telephone: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
I strongly believe that my year abroad will remain one of the highlights of my life. It should be compulsory to everyone studying a degree at every university.

In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!