Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Study abroad is not easy, but it's still worthwhile Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/09/2017 to 06/02/2017 with

King's College London: London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to live in/navigate a city, learned how to prioritize/set reasonable expectations for myself

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.

Compared to Wellesley College courses, was less rigorous. But this is in part due to the different structure/grading of courses in the UK

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Lived in a self-catered dorm, i.e. was doing grocery shopping and cooking. King's had some good (and well-priced) food options on campus, though this wasn't where I had the majority of my meals. There are plenty of food options in and around the city, for groceries or otherwise

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Felt relatively integrated with the city culture, less so with university culture but this is more so by choice (I didn't join any clubs and mostly socialized with other study abroad students because those are the easiest people to meet)

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Did not have an experience with healthcare, but information about how to access it (NHS, King's disability services and other support systems) was readily available

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I would probably choose ASE in Bath, because the small program size and program being one of just American students would be more comfortable and I would have done a better job staying on track (as part of a more intimate social/academic group). Overall though I'm still glad that I challenged myself and had a pretty good experience.

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? $75

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
  • International Students
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Location
  • Course catalog
* What could be improved?
  • Housing
  • Orientation - tours/integration into university life
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Think realistically about your mental health before you go abroad, have a plan for coping mechanisms, etc.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!