Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Adventures in England Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/30/2017 to 05/20/2017 with

Advanced Studies England: Bath - ASE Study Centre

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned more about England and English culture that I had always wanted to know. It was worth every second. My only regret was that I had to leave.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I found the classes at ASE the right amount of challenging. I was constantly engaged and challenged, but I didn't have so much work that I didn't have time to explore England and Europe.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I got to know every one of the on-site admin people very well, and they were all wonderful. They all did everything that they could to make my experience the best possible.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved where I was housed, but I had some roommate issues that were not at all the fault of the program.

* Food:

There is no dining hall provided, but they do give each student a weekly stipend to buy their own food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I joined a choir and did some of the other things that the program provided in order to integrate more into the community of Bath. I loved Bath and the culture there. I would highly recommend studying there.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any health issues while abroad, but the people that I know who did got excellent care.

* Safety:

Bath is an incredibly safe city. I never felt unsafe while walking around the city, even after dark.

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

I loved ASE and the people there. My experience was exactly what I was looking for and what I needed. I loved it.

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)

Due to the weekly stipend on food, it was really easy not to spend much money if you didn't want to. The money that I spent was for personal travel, and that was my personal choice. Those expenses were unnecessary.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Food=$0, Other (Travel, etc)=$50 on average
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? No. It's easy not to spend money.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

My program is in England and in English, but I chose to take a French course. That encouraged me to use the language a lot and improve my French skills.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? French 217
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Because it's an English program, it's entirely up to self-discipline when you study and use the foreign language that you choose to study.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Staff
  • Location
  • Academics
* What could be improved?
  • Housing (Roommate issues)
  • N/A
  • N/A
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish that I had known how easy it would be to travel. I didn't start travelling very much until halfway through term, and I could have done more. I wish that I had.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Jane Austen
Course Department: English
Instructor: Joanne Parsons
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I really enjoyed this class. As a huge fan of Austen, it was great to look at the novels in different ways. The instructor was great, and I found the course thoroughly enjoyable.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

French Tutorial
Course Department: Tutorials (at Oxford)
Instructor: Julia Hartley
Instruction Language: French/English
Comments: I was terrified to take this course because it's a tutorial, but I really had a great time. The material was challenging, but Julia worked through it all with me. We did a good blend of English and French to help balance comprehension of the text and the language. I feel like my French greatly improved upon taking this class, and I would highly recommend it!
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Tudor and Stuart England
Course Department: History
Instructor: John Stevenson
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I loved this course. The professor was incredibly knowledgeable and great to have in class. I had never taken a history class before in college, and this was an excellent experience. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this course.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Myths and Legends of Britain and Ireland
Course Department: English/Medieval-Renaissance
Instructor: Rebecca Lyons
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I found the texts really intriguing. We did some of the more well known ones like Beowulf and A Midsummer Night's Dream, but we also did lesser known works such as the Tain and the Mabinogion. I found the course intriguing and challenging to the right level. I really enjoyed this class and the professor.
Credit Transfer Issues: