Life changing experience i'll never forget Past Review

By (Marketing., Providence College) - abroad from 01/01/2013 to 04/19/2013 with

Arcadia: London - London Internship Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot from my courses and internship but the most valuable things I took away from my experience was from traveling and learning how to navigate in unfamiliar cities. I came home with a sense of independence and greater appreciation for other cultures.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I attended two universities. Professors were often confused about abroad students and alternate assessments at City University. Majority of the class time focused on the final assessment. We were sometimes dismissed for this part of class being that we weren't taking the exam. I would have loved to focus more time on our presentations and projects since it was such a large part of our final grade. Arcadia University had a more familiar structure and teaching style.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Loved that I was in a house with so many other students rather than an apartment.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Having an internship helped me to integrate with the local culture and meet people outside my program. Students who just attended classes found it more difficult and tended to hang out with other american abroad students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

never used, heard health care/doctors were easily accessible.

* Safety:

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)

I spend a lot, London was an expensive city. Especially traveling to and from my internship.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I set a weekly budget for myself as well as a budget for weekend trips. It helped me to stay on track but I still ended up spending a lot. Save up before you go!

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?
  • Internship
  • Housing
  • Classes
* What could be improved?
  • Internship Seminar
  • $ for food/transportation (CAPA does this)
  • flexibility, was sometimes hard to attend work events or schedule hours around class time
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How busy I would be doing classes and an internship. I don't regret my decision but I was busy 8-8 while other students only had class 3 or maybe 4 hours a day. Sometimes It was hard living in a house where only one other student had an internship but I did enjoy my work.

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 Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.