Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Lovely but Lonely London Past Review

By (Applied Economics., Baylor University) - abroad from 01/15/2014 to 05/04/2014 with

Regent’s University London: Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Londoners love their drink and it is very cold and dreary there. As I thought, it was a great place to travel from, but it was expensive to cross the Bering Straight. I wish I'd chosen somewhere that spoke another language for a greater adventure-- somewhere in Europe that was warmer and central to all the locations I wanted to go. Regent's was certainly worthwhile for its education but not for travel. The Pound was too expensive.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

No classes on Fridays and most teachers very aware that most students travel on the weekends. There was a reasonable amount of coursework: not too light, not too hard.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

There was no on-site administration for Baylor University (from Baylor University), although I WAS assigned an Advisor named Benjamin Wolf and he was very helpful.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living arrangements were very good. Bathrooms were kept fairly clean and had a nice view of the park in which the college is located. My only complaint might be that the college was fairly isolated from the rest of the city and from any cheap places to eat (Regent's is one of the most if not THE most expensive part of London).

* Food:

They had some weird stuff sometimes at the Refectory, but the Deli and Brasserie were ALWAYS good. Plus, your could always order pizza from a chain or Delta's at any time of night.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I didn't feel very integrated with the culture by the end, but that was because I'm not a drinker and don't like going to pubs. Drinking and pubs are a HUGE part of their culture...

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any health problems personally, but a friend of mine did, and she had a lot of problems trying to get help.

* Safety:

At the college, it was completely safe. We had security sitting at a desk at nearly every entrance and you had to swipe your Student ID card to get in anywhere. There was a gate all around the school you have to swipe to get through as well. Outside the city, you will probably be OK as long as you're smart. Don't go drinking alone or wander alleys at night. Keep a hand on your purse on the Tube and in crowds and you'll be fine.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

I needed about $350-$450 (200-250 pounds) per month to live at Regent's College, but I don't drink so I never had the "pub expense", which I heard was rough. And that $350 did not include travel expenses. (That was about $300-$500 per weekend).

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50-$100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan trips FAR in advance as you will get better deals on flights and hostels. Have a per-week or per-month budget.

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

  • Americans
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Education
  • Food
* What could be improved?
  • Integration
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Know where you want to travel and make sure everything lines up far in advance. It is not fun to plan stuff last-minute as it is very expensive and stressful that way.

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.