Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

London Without the Chaos Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/18/2017 to 12/15/2017 with

Queen Mary University of London Study Abroad programme

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
While abroad, I gained a lot more independence, from having to cook all my own meals to navigating through places I had never been to alone. I also found it valuable to practice finding community in a place where you know no one. I think my time abroad was absolutely worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I had a great experience at Queen Mary! I loved the location, which provided easy access to the city, while being just far enough away to not be overwhelming. I met a ton of incredible people and loved all of the modules I took!

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? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I prepped all my meals each week in order to have minimal food costs.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • easy travel access
  • great module options
  • all the kind people I met
* What could be improved?
  • add/drop period could be simplified
  • Exchange students could be housed together instead of being put in with 17-18 year old freshmen
  • could have had more of an orientation of exchange students with more social opportunities
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known things like what the cheapest grocery store is to shop at, what the best curry place on Brick Lane is, etc, but part of the fun was finding those things out for myself.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.