Learning by London Past Review
By A student (HISTORY., Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/24/2012 to 06/07/2013 with
University College London (UCL): London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned that translocating yourself to a different place for a year can be a bit intimidating--especially when you have an established routine/set of friends at Wellesley. It was worthwhile to me to try something different, and although it wasn't always easy or fun, I think it was extremely worthwhile. I learned not to be too put off by the cultural differences (i.e. casual racism). Sometimes going abroad will make you appreciate the little things about home that you never noticed before. Being abroad gave me the opportunity to see so many beautiful places and cultures.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Intensity was concentrated within two or three weeks within each term. All papers were due at the same time at the end of term; all exams were taken at the end of the year. Otherwise my weekly schedule was not very rigorous, apart from weekly reading assignments. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Much less organized than most American universities. Inter-departmental exchange is complicated, and registration can be very complicated. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a flat with 3 other people--1 girl and 2 boys. We shared a kitchen and a bathroom. It was an un-catered hall so we all cooked for ourselves. The walk to UCL Main campus was about 20 minutes long each way. I enjoyed my living arrangements. |
| * Food: |
Cooked my own food almost every day. Eating out in London can be very expensive. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt reasonably integrated with the local culture, but I credit that to my British flatmates and the fact that I was abroad for the full academic year. It seemed like many other study abroad students from the US only socialized with other Americans. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
We were encouraged to register with a doctor at the hospital (our care would be covered under NHS) but I never did that. |
| * Safety: |
There were a few muggings outside my dorm building each term, but I never felt too unsafe in central London. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
London is a very expensive city. If you go out to dinner with friends one night, it can often cost £20, which is over $30. Going out is also expensive--drinks and cover fee can cost at least £20 a night depending on where you go. I traveled throughout Europe so those expenses added up as well. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Food-£30 a week, Other expenses (fun)-usually £30 a week on average |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It's most cost effective to buy food from the market and cook everything at home. If you're traveling to other countries, try to book flights as early as possible. Stay at hostels, not hotels. They are a lot cheaper and always more fun. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Be extremely outgoing and push yourself to do new things! |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
