Work hard, Play hard Past Review
By Leland Cook (Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 06/20/2016 to 09/29/2016 with
London School of Economics (LSE): Direct Enrollment in LSE Summer School
Living in a huge city as a resident rather than a tourist
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
LSE lives up to its reputation as a top notch institution with a truly international student body and rigorous curricula. Unlike many study abroad experiences, the classes are intense and the effort demanded is great. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The school is run in the quirky yet efficient style of British bureaucracy.. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
LSE has many dorm options. I chose Northumberland House, adjacent to Trafalgar Square in the dead center of London. While very affordable and in a great location, the dorm is not good for someone planning to stay more than a week. The rooms are spartan and always look dirty, the cleaning service rarely does much, the lamps are all broken and the bathrooms are identical to those found in a small motor home, with the toilet, shower, and sink all centered around the same square foot of space. Although lack of air con is typical in London, it is a great nuisance at Northumberland because you are forced to open your window to the racket of the square. Also, one of the two elevators will always be broken. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
Nothing in London is cheap. I found a cheap haircut though. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $500 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It is possible to save money on food by choosing the "cheap and cheery" sort of restaurant chains found throughout London such as Pret a Manger. Don't get a pay-as-you-go oyster card if you stay more than a week. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? |
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? | you will get very homesick |
