Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Liberal arts college meangirls are not for the weak, but solo travel helps January 31, 2026

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/25/2025 to 12/13/2025 with

Advanced Studies England: Bath - ASE Study Centre

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yeah the internship option was great to get some experience

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The location was beautiful but I don't think being shoved into cramped living spaces with American mean girls is for me. I wish I had been more adventurous & not dealt with mean girl Americans while abroad.

* Food:

Cooked for myself & I'm a good cook lol-- also they gave us 75 pounds a week for food which was epic

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

If you want to integrate into local culture, I recommend you just be adventurous and choose a more immersive program. Doing the internship meant that I got to engage a bit more. The friends I did manage to make and I did British things together, but it's not complete cultural immersion if you're just doing stuff with other Americans tbh

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The program didn't really do anything to help me, but because I had a work visa I had access to the NHS which came in clutch once or twice for me

* Safety:

Safe but the main building was broken into while I was studying in there and all the money was stolen and doors were destroyed but luckily I hid in the library

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

Mean girls from liberal arts colleges are the worst kinds of mean girls. If I could start college over I would have taken a language starting first-year instead of sophomore year so that I could have pushed myself to live with a host family and have a more immersive experience. Like what is the fun of just being around American LAC kids? Also admin was too hand-holdy at ASE in some areas but incredibly lacking in others. It was bizarre

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $85

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
  • Opportunity for travel away from claustrophobic mean girl city
  • The kebab truck
* What could be improved?
  • Don't choose program
  • My fault
  • idk
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I wouldn't like it so that I could choose a different one

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Writing for the Stage
Course Department:
Instructor: Sarah Sigal
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Romans in Britain
Course Department:
Instructor: Lara Berry
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Contemporary Black British Literature
Course Department:
Instructor: Leila Kamali
Instruction Language:
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: