London is expensive; London is also the best city in the world. Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/18/2017 to 12/15/2017 with
University College London (UCL): London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
By being exposed to people who don't think so similarly to me, I was challenged to question myself every day: Is there a better career path for me that I haven't considered because it's not popular in the US? Is there a better way to do higher education? Is there a more interesting thing to study for me that isn't offered in the US? Being questioned every day was worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Since I was studying physics, it was definitely intense. There was an expectation of students teaching themselves and not expecting to know everything in lecture. Furthermore, since I had to take exams while still finishing up the course, it was really really intense academically towards the end. And there were very little support resources. But that's independence! You take charge of your education, if you want it. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
I cooked for myself, it was amazing. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health care in the UK is so easy and good, I am considering moving here for that sole reason. So much simpler and easier than in the US. I got really really badly sick, I went to the GP office during walk in hours, and they took care of me really well. Gave me a prescription and I walked to the pharmacy and had my medication same day. No messy calling insurance nonsense, no worrying what my antibiotics would cost (all medication costs 8 pounds or something like that - ALL OF IT), none of that. |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The friends I made, the things I've learned about myself, and the new world mindset I've developed are priceless. |
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 not cheap. Housing is super expensive and ate up most of the financial assistance I got from Wellesley. I didn't go anywhere often because it was just so expensive to get around in and around London. Food was reasonably priced, I'd say very similar to the US in grocery stores. And then everything in even fast food restaurants was absurdly expensive. |
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
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* Where did you live?
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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? | DON'T BUY THE LINEN PACK. IT IS TERRIBLE. DO NOT BUY THE LINEN PACK FROM UCL, IT IS THE WORST THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME EVER. Just go to IKEA the day you get here and get your linens there. |
