Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Living, Loving, London Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/17/2018 to 12/14/2018 with

University College London (UCL): London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I became more independent and learned to trust myself when traveling.

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.

Interesting courses though I didn't love the approach to art historical object analysis

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Great location in London -- right by campus and three major tube stops, plus the room was a nice size. My one qualm was with the dorm showers.

* Food:

I bought food and cooked for myself

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I made so many friends from the UK and explored with them, though most of my friends were fellow exchange students

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I got sick during my program (nothing major) and had a hard time getting help from my program itself. I ended up buying stuff at a local pharmacy myself.

* Safety:

I felt incredibly safe in London, though students should always stay vigilant. More than anything I'd recommend knowing multiple routes of getting around and having someone to talk on the phone to if you get stuck walking home late at night by yourself.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I loved where I was based in London - Bloomsbury is such a wonderful and accessible area. I'm thinking about going back to London for work or grad school now and will apply to UCL.

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 was lucky enough to save up before going to London which gave me plenty of wiggle room for planning trips. Weekly, I probably spent $40 - $60 USD on groceries and found inexpensive experiences when I could. I did eat out at coffee shops a lot because they were great for working and contributed to the higher cost weeks of food. When I went on trips I probably spent $50-$100 on expenses other than travel but they were spaced out and worth it.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $40-$60 USD
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I would recommend buying what you can in bulk - for me I bought a lot of rice and canned beans/tomatoes so I could make bean bowls for dinner. Each week I would buy fresh veggies, cheese, milk, fruit, bread, and dessert.

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

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Apartment
* 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?
  • Location
  • Campus Culture
  • People
* What could be improved?
  • Class options for Affiliate Students
  • Communication between departments
  • Communication to students about not having class the first week
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That people in service positions aren't necessarily trying to help you so you need to be very clear about your expectations (Luggage issues at Heathrow)

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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The Outright Urbanite
A 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.