London: Where I Learned to Love Myself and the World Around Me Past Review
By A student (History, General, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/22/2014 to 12/12/2014 with
University College London (UCL): London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I really really really loved London it was such a great city filled with amazing people and things to do. I did not really like my experience at UCL, I wish I had chosen a different university. The classes were a bit too heavy/boring in my department and a lot of classes at too many American study abroad students.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were a bit boring and it was hard/unclear how to change. At the very end, I had five 2500 word essays due because I would not be there second semester. I wish the weird amount of work that would be given to one term study abroad students at UCL would be made clear. That was very off-putting. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were pretty helpful, but it was unclear when UCL would actually start. I thought 20 Sept was when school would begin but they did not clearly communicate that there would be an orientation week. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I missed the housing deadline so I had to make other accommodations. I wish there had been a reminder! |
| * Food: |
I had to cook for myself. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
By the end, I felt pretty integrated but not because of UCL at all, but just because of things I had done on my own. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Just fine. I did not have any health care needs, nor did any of my friends, so I can't really speak to that experience. |
| * Safety: |
I felt quite safe in London. There weren't as many police officers, but CCTV cameras were everywhere. People can be pretty drunk and rowdy but no one ever tried to attack me or anything. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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Finances
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* 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 very expensive and at time money was pretty tight. Housing + living expenses, I had to rely on my parents more than I wanted. I wish Wellesley could give students abroad some sort of stipend. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | probably around 80 pounds/week, a little more or less depending. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take the summer before and work if you can. If you are going abroad for a year try and get a job whilst in London |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | How much work it would be. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
