Go! Past Review

By (East Asian Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/05/2015 to 05/31/2015 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes

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.

Loved the courses offered

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

SOAS bureaucracy is infamous

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Netted a clean room in Dinwiddy but had the lousiest neighbors and management didn't do anything to help. Do not live there if you can afford to live elsewhere

* Food:

Expensive

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I picked courses with in-class participation

* 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

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)

Right on point with my budget, but nonetheless quite expensive to eat out

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 60+
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? do not eat out

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

The special course in Chinese 2 had a very interesting lecturer, but had to take it per Wellesley language req for full year continuity.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 201
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0

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
  • 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?
  • Courses
  • Lecturer
  • City
* What could be improved?
  • Bureaucracy
  • Dorm
  • Cost
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How lousy the Special Course in Chinese 2 is