my experience in london was immersive, busy, informative, thrilling Past Review

By Grace Skillman (University of Westminster) - abroad from 06/16/2017 to 07/28/2017 with

IFSA: London - University of Westminster

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

My parents live in London so I have already gotten a good feel for the locals and culture. This experience abroad, I gained incredible friendships with students and professors. I will be friends with the people I met in dorms hopefully for the rest of our lives. I also developed a very close relationship with my history professor. We spent a lot of time together outside of class. I had him over with friends to my parents' flat for a bbq. He introduced me and a few other students to his gentlemen's club. I am excited to get together this Christmas when I go back.

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.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I was on the 21st floor on the Marylebone campus. The view was incredible. My one complaint is that the fire alarms went off about 10 times during my stay. It was extremely unnerving, and after a few times most people did not believe it to be real. This is a huge fire safety issue.
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* 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)
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?	make as many meals as you can in the dorms

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm Other
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	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?	professors courses people
* What could be improved?	Westminster Marylebone building fire alarms Integration between different dorm campuses The social program weekend trips were not planned with proper timing. We did not have enough time at many of the places we visited. Also, a lot of the trips did not include admission/tickets. The price we had to pay for tickets were not worth the money because we did not have enough time. I would suggest going to fewer places with more time scheduled.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I had known that we did not need to bring our own bedding. It said on the packing list to bring bedding.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Jack the Ripper's London
Course Department:	History
Instructor:	Caroline Watkinson
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: