Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

SOAS fun! Past Review

By (English, Africana Studies, Wellesley College) for

SOAS, University of London: London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
ABSOLUTELY. My study abroad experience helped me to understand more accurately the western world and perceptions of America and Americans abroad.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was pretty similar to the workload at Wellesley for my select classes. I also took one more class than the recommended 3 for study abroad students. The teaching methods were very new to me, but I thoroughly enjoyed them. I believe I learned more in this semester abroad than I would have if I had stayed at Wellesley for Fall 2011.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The only weakness I encountered was in SOAS's mental health services support. Otherwise the program administrators were excellent.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I needed to buy bedding and pillows and converters for the electrical outlets. Dinwiddy was a nice relaxing walking distance away from SOAS. It was an excellent experience, and my flatmates were all incredible. I should note that they were all male, which I did mind and in fact preferred. However, I realize that some Wellesley students might have been uncomfortable in this situation so I suggest that those who might have been ask for an all-female flat.

* Food:

I had to cook all of my meals or else buy take-out. But, I should mention, that I love cooking. And the quality of food in the local grocery stores is far beyond the quality of food at Wellesley and in most grocery stores I've seen throughout the country. The prices, considering the quality, weren't bad either.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I absolutely LOVED living in Dinwiddy. One night we walked to campus and had a mini-concert with guitars and violins and drums in a yurt that sits in the grass in front of the main building. I had so many amazing experiences. And Dinwiddy is a short distance from Camden Town which hosts an endless amount of activities.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Don't travel the streets alone at night and keep your distance from East Islington after dark if you aren't used to that kind of neighborhood - apparently the neighborhood has a lot of muggings. And criminals in London are much more fond of knives than guns. I saw a man run off with a woman's purse at a bus stop. There were several car accidents up the street from my dorm near King's Cross. But all of these are issues associated with living in a city. It's part of the experience. And as long as you're smart, you'll be fine.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ~60 pounds/week, but I ate really well. Food is something I'm willing to splurge on.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Do NOT miss your flight. I'd never purchased my own ticket out of the country so I wasn't aware that the same stand-by if late rules don't apply to international flights.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None

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

  • Americans
  • International Students
  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Dinwiddy
  • My flatmates
  • Professors
* What could be improved?
  • Some administrative coordination of an introduction between Wellesley students studying abroad at SOAS.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Have an open mind and be outgoing! And don't be that girl who always says "In America..." haha.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Literature and Colonialism in North India
Course Department:
Instructor: Orsini
Instruction Language: English
Comments: It was only challenging because half of the class readings were in Hindi, which I do not know. I told the professor up front that I have no knowledge of Hindi and no prior experience with Indian literature, but the professor insisted I take the class anyways and that she would provide translations of all the Hindi texts for me, which she did not. I think she needed more people in her course. There were only 5 and three students dropped 1/3rd into the class.
Credit Transfer Issues: No