Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Go with CAPA Past Review

By (Business Administration, Management and Operations., Arizona State University) - abroad from 05/15/2012 to 06/30/2012 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: London, England

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I met so many great people and allowed myself to go out of my comfort zone. I haven't met one person that regrets their London experience.

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.

I had 1 full day of class and 20 hours of internship a week. Alot of time spent in the classroom and sometimes a bit stressful, but if you can manage your time it only added to the experience.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Always available to answer questions and were easy to talk to. They did whatever it took to make sure you had a great experience.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was in a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment. The entire building was CAPA students. I loved it. We had barbecues outside and were in a safe neighborhood.

* Food:

I'm gluten free so it was a bit harder for me. I always went to the Sainsbury grocery store and got everything I needed for the week. Otherwise, eating out could get pretty expensive.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was obvious we were not from UK but we still went to all the Queen's jubilee events and pubs to watch the games.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I got sick when I first arrived in London. The pharmacies are located all over and are very helpful.

* Safety:

If anything were to happen near us, we found out about it immediately. I had no run-ins but I know people that had their wallets stolen. Keep a purse that you can put across your body and make sure it has a zipper. Otherwise, keep copies of your card numbers and your ID just in case.

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 came in expecting London to be expensive. Most of my money was spent on food, and other events/traveling that I had planned on doing. My advice is to buy food from Sainsbury's to keep you through the week. Shopping there seems cheap but the exchange rate is pretty bad.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 200 a week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you want to take weekend trips, book in advance, and check out hostels for cheap stays

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

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? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • people
  • location
  • events
* What could be improved?
  • less work
  • CAPA open on weekends
  • information on living situation and internship sooner
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Traveling is a bit more expensive than I thought

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.