A truly immersive theatre experience. Past Review
By Leah A (literature and theatre, Reed College) - abroad from 09/09/2013 to 12/13/2013 with
British American Drama Academy: London/ Oxford - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was absolutely worthwhile. Living in another country gives you a completely unique perspective on life and the world. It was so good to get away from campus for a semester and be reminded that the world is so much bigger than one small college campus. I had the opportunity to see so much fantastic theatre and to make some incredible friends from all over America with whom I have strong shared interests. London is such a livable and vibrant city, I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to live there for a semester.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Good location, friendly staff, great living with everyone but there were lots of maintenance problems -- the heaters and hot water frequently stopped working in our flat (as in, several times a week). |
| * Food: |
Expensive, but a grocery store close by was helpful. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Went to lots of theatre, museums, saw a lot of the city. Only studied with American students so that was the only aspect in which the social integration into British culture lacked. However, it was not a problem and I felt very well integrated into my neighborhood and London culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt fine, but I grew up in a large city so I am used to navigating that kind of environment. I know some students encountered some street violence during their experience. There were frequent fights and arrests outside the building at night. London is a big city though, so that comes with the territory. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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 an incredibly expensive city and the exchange rate between the pound and the dollar puts Americans at a huge disadvantage. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Between $250-$300 a week |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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? | 0 |
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? | Be more excited and less nervous! |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
