Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An Incredible Semester of Being British Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/03/2017 to 06/03/2017 with

Arcadia: London - King's College London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The whole program was very worthwhile. I was able to experience several cultures while gaining a stronger sense of self and independence.

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.

The only assignments I had across the semester were a total of 8 essays. This seems to be common for the culture. However, I found that some of the King's College seminar leaders were not very helpful in explaining some of the course material.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Arcadia University provided great supervision and always stayed connected to students. They also did well in ensuring our safety.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Overall, I was satisfied. Although, I was hoping for a better introduction to the residence staff.

* Food:

While not on a meal plan, King's College did have subsidized food

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Very integrated

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

N/A

* Safety:

I felt very safe. Whenever there was an incident, I always heard right away from Arcadia, reaching out to students to make sure everyone was safe.

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

I enjoyed the opportunity to take classes and participate in student life at a British University, in comparison to an American program. That said, I was in University Chorus at King's College and it was one of the most fun experiences of my semester.

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 found that the most expensive item was usually food, there was no meal plan at King's College but found solutions for this: 1. Making good use of the kitchen: Cooking can be much less expensive than eating out. 2. King's College offered subsidized lunches on the main campus

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? In general, $150-175 on food, drinks and transport
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Look out for as many student deals as possible and create a daily budget. For me, that budget was around $25 a day (in British Pounds)

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
  • 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?
  • Support and Encouragement
  • Flow of orientation
  • Opportunity to participate in a British Univeristy
* What could be improved?
  • Preparation for academic differences
  • Orientation sessions on finance/saving money
  • Getting to know the residence staff
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish that I was more oriented with the academic/educational differences in England as well as normal food prices and their comparison to US dollars.

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 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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

US Slavery and the Literary Imagination
Course Department: English
Instructor: Leila Kamali
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I really appreciated Dr. Kamali's one-on-one help outside of class and I thought that the seminar sessions were very well-spent. While the class readings were all very thought provoking, I think that the reading material per-week could have been shorter and not as rigorous
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Early Modern Britain
Course Department: History
Instructor: Estelle Paranque
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I benefitted from Estelle's seminar methods centered around preparing for essays and understanding primary sources, and I really appreciated her taking her time to answer my questions.
Credit Transfer Issues: