Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Best Year of My LIfe (yes it's cheesy) Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 10/04/2012 to 07/05/2013 with

London School of Economics (LSE): London - General Course, Year-Long Study Abroad Programme

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I made amazing friends and had experiences I would never have living in a small college in Wellesley, MA. I was also able to attend career events that would not be available at Wellesley and interacted with potential employers. I was always happy and motivated because London is an amazing city with amazing people.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

LSE has some of the best academics of the world; however, these academics may not be the best teachers. LSE focuses on independent study, which is quite different from the US educational system, as you only meet 2 hours per week per subject. Nevertheless, many academics visit the campus and you can attend lectures on almost any topic.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The social life at Passfield was great but there were always technical issues like heating or horrible bathroom facilities. Passfield Hall also had too many first years. The location was great and the hall wasn't very expensive!

* Food:

I signed up for a catered dorm (this only means they give you dinner every night and brunch on Saturdays). The food wasn't great but I would still go for a catered dorm rather than cooking myself.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I mainly made friends with other General Course students as we had events with each other. Moreover, my dorm had too many first years who I always couldn't connect to in terms of maturity. The third years are normally busy and have their pre-formed friend groups. Generally, everyone is quite nice.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The NHS is free so that's a plus. Getting an appointment at the medical center usually meant that you would be fine by the time they would give you an appointment. The doctors were nice but they didn't support you too much. Two employees at the UCL hospital were actually quite mean to me when I was sick and panicking.

* Safety:

There are muggers in London but I've come back home alone at 4 and am still alive. It really depends on the area. Central London is pretty safe. Bankside maybe not too much.

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)

London is very expensive and it's really easy to spend all your money within the first month. I would recommend you make a budget beforehand. Keep in mind that you'll probably be travelling to other European countries while you're in London which may turn out to be more expensive than you think. I tried to save money on food but that was probably a bad decision. All in all, I was able to survive on a student budget. Another problem I found was that LSE processes payments at a very slow rate (given that half of LSE students go on to become bankers you would think the process would be faster) so my salary came in very late and I couldn't really depend on that.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 60-100 quid
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make a list of things you spend on so you know where your money is going. I spent less if I withdrew less money but it may work the other way round for you.

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

  • Local Students
  • 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • People
  • Travelling to Europe
  • Academics
* What could be improved?
  • Efficiency at LSE
  • Academics at LSE
  • London Weather (haha)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The finals are going to kill me. LSE gives you 7 weeks to revise for the entire year. It takes enormous amounts of dedication to actually study in that period as a study abroad student who just has to pass the exams.

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 Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.