Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Awesome! Loved it so much! Past Review

By (Political Science and Government, Wellesley College) - abroad from 10/06/2014 to 07/03/2015 with

London School of Economics (LSE): London - General Course, Year-Long Study Abroad Programme

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was a great breather away from the States and it generally gave me a newer and different perspective on academics and life.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

It only got academically rigorous for me towards the end of the year. There is generally no graded continuous assessment system, and the final exam, which essentially carries your entire year grade, is conducted at the end of the school year. That means that your success in that school year is completely dependent on how you fair in that single exam that encompasses everything you have learnt that whole year.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The Dean for the General Course and his entire team did a good job to make us feel welcome and at home. The was an information overload at the beginning of the program, which generally comes with the nature of the General Course and moving into a new country to study and all that. Otherwise, they did a pretty good job.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I LOVED where I lived. I made some life-long friends as a result. Bankside house, to me is the best student accommodation housing that the LSE has. The location, the people, the atmosphere was just excellent. The rooms are pretty sizeable compared to Wellesley dorms, and we were served dinner every night, except Saturdays when we had brunch instead.

* Food:

I loved the food and the restaurant service at Bankside. It helps cut down on cost of food as well to live in a catered dorm.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The NHS in England is pretty effective. I did not have to use the health centers at all, but they are spread out across the nation in such a way that makes them easily accessible to all.

* Safety:

I didn't encounter any issues with safety. The location of Bankside house and the LSE was pretty good and so that reduced the likelihood of any safety-related issues occurring.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

London is generally a very expensive city so it's important to be aware of the general costs before hand and budget accordingly.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Budget carefully and STICK TO IT!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Culture Shocks
  • City life
  • People
* What could be improved?
  • Not much
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The information I had was sufficient.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.