Winchester, Hampshire to Winchester, Virginia
Shenandoah University has a really pretty campus
Final year LLB Law student Clara Wood tells us all about her experience studying for a semester of her second year at Shenandoah University in the other Winchester – Winchester, Virginia in the USA. Clara applied for this through our Study Abroad programme.
Preparing to depart
Before leaving for the US, I was so nervous. As I transferred to the University of Winchester from another uni, I'd only been here for a few months before heading off on my travels. I did not have the normal amount of time to calmly prepare for my study abroad semester, for example only receiving my visa just before I left. Additionally, as the first person from the Department of Law to take part in Study Abroad, I had no previous students to ask questions about the Law course in Virginia. Having said that, studying in America is something I had dreamed of since I was little and so there was no way I was going to let this opportunity pass me by.
Arriving in the USA
When I arrived in the US, I met with a lady from Shenandoah University and another exchange student from France. When we got to our dorms we were absolutely shattered, but the campus was covered in snow and nobody else was there yet, so we just sat happily eating pizza and using Google translate to talk about our journeys. That exchange student has now become one of my best friends, another reason I am so grateful for my study abroad semester.
Uni life in the UK versus USA
There are so many differences between studying in the US and the UK. At the University of Winchester our grades are based on one or sometimes two assignments for each module. In the USA you are marked on attendance, homework, assessments, exams, practicals, quizzes and extra credit. This definitely came as a shock to the system. The lecturers in the US give many extra credit opportunities so that students can try to increase their grade if they are worried. One of my classes was yoga, a course purely graded on attendance. Although it didn’t count towards my UK degree and I was just doing it for fun, I can see why US students take similar classes as a way to relax, take some of the heavy load off and maybe get an easier step towards their grade.
Two of my classes were Mock Trial 1 and Trial Advocacy 2. Normally students would complete Mock Trial 1 before advancing to Trial Advocacy 2, however with my previous mooting experience in the UK the lecturer believed that I would manage and enjoy both. These were definitely my favourite classes. Becoming Trial Advocacy team captain was lots of fun, especially as a lot of people really cared about putting the time in to improve and practise.
I was made captain of Shenandoah University's Trial Advocacy Team and took part in the American Mock Trial Association's annual tournament. I am third from the left.
Social life and parties
As a smaller University there weren’t the huge ‘frat’ type parties you hear about but Shenandoah still hosted some great parties. The night of Spring Formal was my favourite evening - there was even someone standing on a table playing a saxophone.
Apple Blossom is the main weekend of the year in Winchester, Virginia. Over the weekend there are sports events, a huge parade, ‘darties’ (day parties) and then big parties at night, and everything is pink-and-green themed. This was an incredible weekend. Another weekend I had the opportunity to drive a truck whilst listening to American country songs: that was cool!
One comparison between parties in the UK and in the USA, is that US parties finish much earlier than those here. My French friends and I would always be just getting into the night when it would be over. They also don’t throw parties on school nights – smart, but not something UK or French students usually worry about.
One night the performing arts students threw a huge scavenger hunt - we were sent a list of things to find and take photos of in the town of Winchester, Virginia. At the end of the time, we all had to meet back up and see who had won. It was extremely chaotic, with things including getting a mattress (from a dorm) and an extra person, and it was so much fun. The extra person we grabbed was one of my closest friends who was the Student Body President, who plans to come and visit me in the UK this summer.
Here I am in Central Park in New York during Spring Break
Even more travel opportunities
My boyfriend came to visit me for a few weeks over Spring Break. We had a lovely time playing tennis on campus, going on walks and runs, painting, going on day trips, and visiting New York. America isn’t known for its public transport system so unless you pay lots of money for Uber or hire a car, you can’t travel very easily, but we made the most of our time and I still loved showing him everything that I had been telling him about.
Over Spring Break many students go on amazing trips. Some of my friends went to Puerto Rico, others to Colombia and there was a university trip to Texas on offer. As my boyfriend was visiting, I chose to go to New York. Whatever trips you choose, you're going to have an amazing Spring Break.
I was also fortunate that my mum came to visit me for a few weeks. We stayed in a cabin in West Virginia and rented a car. My American friends gave me driving advice first because driving in the States is very different. We spent three weeks driving all over from West Virginia to Virginia to Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, and literally up and down a mountain in West Virginia. This was by accident, which was so scary and funny afterwards. I couldn’t look in any mirrors or in my peripheral vision as it was a drop-down cliff road, and that was on my first day driving in the US.
Societies and activities
At Shenandoah there is a society which organises outdoor activities most weekends. The activities were all amazing, so they got booked up very quickly. I went snow tubing and hiking, my friends were able to go skiing, and other activities included camping and paddleboarding. There were other trips outside of this group that I went on including a trip to Washington DC to go to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and to explore the city. I also went on a trip to Lake Erie at the top of Pennsylvania to watch the total solar eclipse which was incredible.
I also got the chance to visit Washington DC.
And finally….
To sum up my four months, I met amazing people from all over the world, went to some incredible places and had the best time. To give an idea of the people I met, one of my closest friends, a French student, is now dating a Mexican opera singer and they are travelling countries together!
I had an amazing time on my Study Abroad semester and I cannot recommend it enough. Even if you’re scared, even if you have no idea what it’ll be like, it’s worth that leap.
If you would like to find out more about the opportunities to study abroad during your degree, have a look at our Study Abroad page or email studyabroad@winchester.ac.uk
Back to blog