Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

London is amazing and I can't wait to go back! Past Review

By (Secondary Education, Northwestern University) - abroad from 09/09/2014 to 12/13/2014 with

Arcadia: London - King's College London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I can't even describe how much I learned, both academically and about myself. The experience was so eye-opening, in a good way, and was definitely something I would do again if I could.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The intensity of the program was just enough to allow for travel on the weekends but still be interesting and engaging. Arcadia was fantastic with their support and the resources they provided us, both regarding classroom work and adjustment to the UK.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration was generally very good. They were easy to talk to, very helpful and genuinely lots of fun. The only problem I saw was that they did play favorites.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a dorm, which was unexpected but worked out really well. I got to mix with UK-native students, which was a great opportunity.

* Food:

I really wish food had been provided in a dining hall setting. I had to cook for myself, which was not ideal and I wish I had been aware of that ahead of time. Any food I did receive was really good, though.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Putting us in the dorms with students from the UK was really important to the level of integration I felt into UK culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I almost never felt unsafe- London is the safest city I have ever been in and definitely one of the safest in the world. Using basic common sense and street smarts is necessary, but I didn't encounter anything troubling.

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)

London is expensive.

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? Know that you will go over budget and plan for when that happens. There is absolutely no way you will come out under budget unless you completely overestimate everything. There are so many circumstances that might come up that you won't plan for- I had to buy a cell phone there so I could contact Arcadia and in case of emergencies.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • The friends I made while abroad
  • How easy it was to travel
  • The extracurricular opportunities they gave us
* What could be improved?
  • Communication, particularly before I left for London
  • Connecting us with other study abroad-based organizations for cheap student travel
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known how expensive it was going to be. Worth every cent, but I just wish I had had a better idea how much money I would need when I left.