<p>So the one college I've applied to (Arcadia) gives freshmen an opportunity to study abroad in either Sterling, Scotland or London. You don't have to commit to Arcadia to sign up to participate in one of these programs (it's more of an assessing interest sort of thing). I am totally split between these locations. London would be simply amazing with its wealth of cultural sites, and the accessibility to mainland Europe via the Chunnel or a quick flight. I absolutely have to visit France and Italy at least once! I would love to intern at a media or political organization while I'm in London. However, Sterling is surrounded by some absolutely breathtaking mountains and I love the proximity to hiking and skiing. Sterling is a town of 40,000 so I don't think there'd be a loss of things to do, there just would not be the plethora of options that there are in London. Sterling is also more isolated, so it would be more difficult to explore continental Europe. From those who have studied abroad in either of these countries or have contemplated, which would you personally choose? Originally, I was deadset on London, but then I did a Google Image search for Sterling and was blown away. I feel very conflicted now! My concern about London, however, would be terrorism threats. Not to say that Scotland is immune from them, but London has experienced a spike in terroristic threats within the past five years. Should I be concerned about safety in London?</p>
<p>Forget Stirling if you’re serious about travelling to the Continent. Europe may be easy to get around, but it’s not that easy to make a trip from Stirling to Paris easy or cheap. You can’t hike in London, but that’s about all you can’t do.</p>
<p>Is London safe? No offence but that seems a rather foolish question when you consider the most deadly terrorist attack in Britain occurred in the skies above a small Scottish town. I’m not sure what spike you’re referring too, but London is perfectly safe.</p>
<p>Honestly, terrorists should be the least of your worries. They can happen at any time and any place. If you’re going to be worried about terrorists while abroad, then I’m not sure why would you want to go abroad.</p>
<p>Why do you want to go abroad for your freshman year? Can you take a gap year? Would these credits even transfer to your chosen university?</p>
<p>The one school which I’ve applied to offers a specific program designed for freshmen to go abroad. I figured it’d be a good time to go so I won’t have the issue of being too deep into my major.</p>
<p>If money is an issue, the cost of living will be significantly less in Stirling (but still probably more than in the US). Of course, the cost of travel to France and Italy will be more. But will you have time for this if you are spending your weekends hiking?</p>
<p>Son did study abroad at Stirling and loved it. He wanted to go back and do another semester there.</p>
<p>Absolutely loved the kids. Incredibly friendly Great inexpensive restaurants in town and
cheap groceries.</p>
<p>Living arrangements: He was placed in an on-campus apartment. 6 bedrooms, males and females together. Small LR and kitchen. </p>
<p>He was able to join great clubs and get involved in campus life and activities.</p>
<p>Travel- he went to Paris, London and Amsterdam, besides travel throughout Scotland. He and his travel companion used Priceline and got 5 star hotels for under $70 a night (so $35 each per night). </p>
<p>He’s had friends at Glaskow and Edinburgh since. All loved it.</p>
<p>Stirling is likely not exciting like London or Edinburgh as it is not a city, but he loved it nevertheless (and this is a Long Island kid, at college in a suburb of a metro area).</p>
<p>Good luck. Rough decision!!!</p>
<p>I race in Stirling all the time. It’s a beautiful area, but it’s definitely not got a lot on like Edinburgh or London do. If you want to easily be able to go on a night out to clubs and stuff, you shouldn’t choose Stirling. It’s fairly easy to get to Edinburgh from Stirling (there’s a direct train on weekdays and it takes ~45 minutes, and on weekends you only have to change once). So, it’d be easy to get to Edinburgh to fly places. </p>
<p>I don’t think I could live in London as it’s just too hectic but Stirling is really the opposite end of that spectrum…</p>