I went to school in my dream city - London. Past Review
By Kayli Balin (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/16/2018 to 12/18/2018 with
King's College London: London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned how to properly cook for myself, and how to navigate new urban territory with an open mind. It was absolutely worthwhile to me.
Review Photos
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 took classes that interested me, and for graduation credit. I was able to enjoy them while learning through a different type of academic institution. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Sometimes, emails took a bit to be answered. But anything urgent there was always someone to speak to in an immediate manner. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was lucky enough to live in a dorm that was closest to my campus! It was in an amazing location (right by waterloo bridge) and the commute to class was a beautiful 10 minute walk. |
| * Food: |
I was responsible for cooking for myself (unlike at Wellesley) and it wasn't as bad at I thought it would be! It helps to plan and budget, but it helped me realize how many different foods I actually liked! |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I made friends with mostly other American students, but I view that in a positive light. Because they knew where I was coming from, it was great to explore and travel with them. Even though you're an outsider, you are still a student at a local school, which is enough to bond with others! |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The NHS system was very easy for me to utilize because I could access resources through my host university. |
| * Safety: |
Although London has been target to attacks and political pressure, my personal safety was not affected. As long as you utilize basic precautions, navigating the city was easy. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I think I had the perfect balance of schoolwork and exploring. King's College allowed me the intellectual rigor I desire but still had time to relax, travel, and explore Europe and London. My flatmates and I are incredibly close now, and if I didn't go, I would have never met them. |
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) |
It was fairly easy to live on a limited budget. Low-cost grocery stores were everywhere (tesco, iceland). It was possible for me to eat out occasionally and travel out of the country. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Approx. 100 pounds/week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Think about things by the week. Like, how much am I gonna spend on groceries this week? Do I need to put more money on my oyster card soon? Ball park a general budget (say 100 pounds a week) and try to stick to it. Depending on how tight money is, be conscious of what you're buying - could you get it cheaper somewhere else? Do you need it? Am I going to go out this week, or travel? |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Bring less clothes if you know you're going to buy them abroad! |
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. |
