Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A great but challenging cultural and academic experience! Past Review

By (Economics., Wellesley College) - abroad from 10/01/2012 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 met a lot of different people and I learned a whole different academic system. Set in a unique environment, London provides a lot of opportunity to engage and learn from academics, societies, and cultural events. One of the KEY experiences at the LSE (different from small liberal arts college) is the significant amount of useful resources professionally. I was exposed to several career fairs and events that really helped me learn about different industries and the opportunities out there (especially good for Financial Services).

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.

It is very rigorous, but only towards the end of the year approaching exams.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very inadequate for such an established school.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Room was small and food was terrible, but people were great!

* Food:

Limited range of food, and almost no options for vegetarians.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I integrated quite easily. London and LSE in particular are very cosmopolitan and are welcoming of various cultures.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Healthcare was a bit of an issue. The clinics tended to have poor quality doctors who only knew how to deal with basic problems e.g. colds etc. Although NHS tries to make it easier by having on call doctors accessible by phone. I did not need any special vaccines etc. But interest in healthcare and quality of healthcare was far better at home.

* Safety:

Very safe if measured precautions are taken.

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)

It is very expensive to live in London, as many may know. Excluding living and entertainment costs (e.g. shopping, movies), it cost around 100 GPB every week.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100 GBP
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy 3/5 lunches on campus from Wright's Bar. It is cheap and will save you quite a bit in aggregate. Otherwise, avoid shopping/plays. Enjoy parks (more summer time), maybe movies occasionally, and try to get on to a meal plan at your hall of residence if it suits 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?
  • Social life
* What could be improved?
  • Academic guidance for study abroad students.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How I would need to structure my academic planning and organization (even though exams are at the end of the year, making notes throughout the year is key to help relieve the stress during exam period, especially for essay based courses).

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

International Economics
Course Department: Economics
Instructor: Swathi Dhingra, Keyu Jin
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was challenging and I regret not making sure I understood every concept fully the week we learned about it. I participated less than I would at my home university, because the participation rate in LSE classes (and most UK ones) tends to be low. I was assessed by exams and homework/participation during the year. I would definitely suggest putting most effort into this course if you do not have an extremely good background in maths (micro).
Credit Transfer Issues: No there are no issues. This course is difficult and credible.