College in the US can cost upwards of $80,000 per year, while in the UK it can be as low as $0. Here's how the experiences compare.

Armani Syed,Maria NoyenMar 25, 2022, 16:13 IST

Maria Noyen graduating from Boston University and Armani Syed graduating from Warwick University.Maria Noyen/ Armani Syed

One of Insider's UK-based reporters went to university in the UK while the other studied in the US.
They couldn't have had more different experiences, from duration of study to college social life.

One UK-based Insider reporter went to college in the US while another studied in the UK, and we had a lot less in common than we expected.

Maria and Armani with suitcases packed for college.Maria Noyen/Insider, Armani Syed/Insider

Maria left the UK in 2015 to go to Massachusetts, USA, while Armani studied in Warwickshire, England.

Maria went to college in Boston, US, whereas Armani did her degree in Coventry, UK.Google Maps

While Boston University currently charges students $79,606 a year, Warwick students pay £9,250, or around $12,260, per year.

Cost is a glaring difference between college in the US and in the UK.Blake Nissen for The Boston Globe via Getty Images, TK

Maria took SATs and applied for up to six colleges through the Common App, while Armani chose five and applied through a portal called UCAS.

The application process is different in the UK and the US.Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images,

American colleges place importance on sororities and fraternities, while British universities have societies for students to socialize and learn skills.

Maria was in a sorority while Armani was in several societies.Maria Noyen/Insider, Armani Syed/Insider

Maria lived in a college dorm and shared a room with one person, while Armani lived in halls of residence and had a single room to herself.

Dorms in the US and the UK.Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images, Armani Syed/Insider

Both Armani and Maria had lectures with over 100 people and then classes with smaller discussion groups.

Academic life is intense both in the US and the UK.Maria Noyen/Insider, Armani Syed/Insider

While Maria had a student government at her college, the elected Student Union was much more active at Armani's university.

Student government seemed like it had more of a presence on Armani's campus than Maria's.Maria Noyen/Insider, TK

In the US, school spirit is an important part of college culture, whereas in the UK there's less importance on it.

School spirit is a big deal in the US, while British universities focus on individualism.Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Armani Syed/Insider

College students in the US can legally drink at age 21, while British students who want to drink can do so from age 18.

Drinking culture is different at US colleges versus in the UK.Maria Noyen/Insider, Armani Syed/Insider

In the US, students will often travel and party for spring break whereas in the UK, students will go on trips to European cities with friends or societies.

Maria's senior spring break in Miami and Armani's trip to Girona, Spain.Maria Noyen/Insider, Armani Syed/Insider

In her first year, Maria would take her meals in the college dining halls while Armani would have to buy her own groceries and cook.

Maria spent her freshman year eating at college dining halls while Armani bought groceries.Maria Noyen/Insider, Armani Syed/Insider

While our college and university experiences were so different, we found the importance of our graduation ceremonies to be much the same.

Graduation day at BU and at Warwick University.Maria Noyen/Insider, Armani Syed/Insider

I took a deep dive into Singapore's vending-machine culture, where you can buy everything from raw salmon to potted plants out of a machine

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