Adventure Past Review

By (Villanova University) - abroad from 01/08/2012 to 04/28/2012 with

Villanova University: London or Singapore - Global Citizens Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
One of the biggest things I got to experience was independence; not just from a stable family or house but also from a central university which many simple things were taken care of for me. The independence which the GCP forces you to develop is extremely unique for undergraduate students to experience so early on in a collegiate experience.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Completely self-driven. My experience was great but can vary from person to person.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* 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)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan trips far in advance to get the cheapest airfare and hostels possible.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Internship Component
  • Traveling Opportunities
  • Academic Quality
* What could be improved?
  • Opportunities to interact with local universities and people
  • Scheduling of classes to accommodation more travel time
  • Communication with Villanova staff to discuss any problems or concerns
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known a little bit more about the company I interned with so that I could have made a better decision to match the goals which I had for my experience as an intern.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Global Political Economy

Course Department:
Instructor: Richard Tudway
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Absolutely brilliant guy and also very nice. Tends to go off on tangents about random things but he knows a ton about everything and you can learn a lot and get a great grade.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

British Life and Culture

Course Department:
Instructor: Richard Weight
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Extremely interactive and very informative.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Business in British Society

Course Department: Sociology
Instructor: Christine Fanthome
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Almost unnecessary and does not offer a lot of useful information. Most of the coursework is self-explanatory and common sense.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Business Dynamics II

Course Department:
Instructor: Andrey Jichev
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Jichev is an extremely nice guy and he knows a lot about the fundamentals of business which is evident in his teaching. He is not the strictest of professors and it is easy to not pay attention and get an A, however you can learn a lot from him if you do pay attention and get an A too.
Credit Transfer Issues: