In every city I traveled to, I still thought of London as my home! Past Review

By (Arcadia University) - abroad from 09/04/2016 to 12/17/2016 with

Arcadia: London - Arcadia in London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a sense of independence in the way that I would navigate the city alone and not be afraid to do so. I learned about an entirely different culture and way of life. It was definitely worthwhile and if I could do it again, I would in a heartbeat.

Review Photos

Arcadia: London - Arcadia in London Photo Arcadia: London - Arcadia in London Photo Arcadia: London - Arcadia in London Photo Arcadia: London - Arcadia in London Photo Arcadia: London - Arcadia in London Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

While my classes at the Arcadia Center were not as rigorous as my classes at City, University of London, they provided me with a great deal of knowledge about the country and city I was studying in. And, of course, the staff was impeccable!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Incredibly helpful for anything that I needed them for

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in Thoresby House where Dave Bradshaw was the RLA and he was just amazing! He was like a friend to all of us and we all had such a great semester!

* Food:

I am probably one person who actually enjoyed the British cuisine! Just be open to new things!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt it very easy to immerse myself in British culture. This was definitely due to the central location of both the Arcadia Center and my housing allocation. Arcadia was located closer to many of the tourist spots, with things like Piccadilly Circus and Hyde Park just a few tube stops away. My house, on the other hand, was in the Borough of Islington, where many pubs and restaurants were located. Just being able to travel around the city made me feel very integrated in the local culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I personally did not have personal experience with the healthcare, although a few of my friends did. It was such extensive coverage that we all knew if something went wrong, we would be able to receive proper treatment. The directors extensively went over the insurance and had flyers posted in the houses and Center telling us how to make doctors appointments if necessary. There were no prevalent health issues in my host city.

* Safety:

I have never felt as safe as I did in London. For my entire almost four months abroad, I never heard of the tragic killings that are prevalent in the States. I was able to freely walk around alone at night and not be afraid, however one should still remember that London is a major metropolis. Any large dangers present to us were sent out in news alerts by the US Embassy; in this way, we were still knowledgable of any dangers that may be posed to us while we were in the city. However, London definitely felt the safest out of any city that I have ever spent time in.

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

I had the most wonderful four months of my life in the Arcadia in London program. I definitely encourage anyone who is looking into studying abroad, but is not sure where to go, to look into London. It is such a diverse city, where you get a variety of cultures, but a place that does not have a language barrier. It is a large city, but easily navigated. It is so close to other European countries and travel between them in a fraction of the price it is to travel around the States. The staff in the Arcadia in London program are some of the sweetest people I have ever met; they wanted to form relationships with each of the students and would meet with us throughout the semester to make sure everything was going well. Even though I traveled all around Europe during my semester, when people ask me my favorite place I visited, I tell them London because it was the most incredible place I have ever been.

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)

I am rating "money" so low only because London is an incredibly expensive city if you want to actually do anything in it. Also, the pound to dollar conversion rate is pretty awful at the moment, so anything I purchased was actually much more expensive in dollars. I had a good portion of money saved before I went abroad, but I went through all of it quite easily, just due to the elevated costs of everything in London.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? between 150 and 200 pounds
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Definitely save as much money before you go as you can. Try to budget when planning trips and never book anything at first glance. Always look at several sites and find the cheapest option possible. Have a back-up plan if you start running out of money (i.e. discuss these things with your parents to see if they are willing to lend you money). I would pull out cash instead of using my debit card due to crazy international fees placed on my card so definitely look into your bank's policy before you leave.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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?
  • Traveling
  • Events & Excursions Put on by Arcadia Staff
* What could be improved?
  • N/A
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How much money I would have needed before I went! Other than that, I researched the country and city heavily and the Arcadia staff provided me with a lot of information before my program started.

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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

The London Novel

Course Department:
Instructor: Richard Maguire
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Richard was one of the best professors that I have had in my three years of college thus far. His extensive knowledge on the topics we discussed and his upbeat personality made every class incredibly interesting. While I did not originally enroll in The London Novel, I am so glad that I got placed in it! I am a science student and I have not taken an English class since high school, so it was a nice change from my normal classes. He chose wonderful novels for us to read and frequently took us on trips about London so we could connect the setting with different areas of the city.
Credit Transfer Issues: