Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A really great program. Past Review

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 06/01/2015 to 07/25/2015 with

Arcadia: London - London Internship Program Summer

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to be more independent and how to interact with other cultures. It was a completely worthwhile experience.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The class I took was more work than I expected, but an entirely manageable load. I took Art and Architecture: Exploring the City and I really liked it. The internship research paper wasn't too much work either.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

There were many resources available to us and the program was well managed and executed. The program provided a lot of opportunities to experience London and the UK, and the staff are all friendly.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in housing in Notting Hill gate, and the housing was comfortable and I had easy access to transportation, food, and other necessities.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I feel like I got some, but not a ton of experience with local culture. However, I was definitely exposed to aspects of English culture I hadn't been aware of before.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

London seemed extremely safe. It helped that we were given safety tips during orientation. I didn't have any safety related incidents.

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 a bit expensive but I didn't have to pay for housing and groceries are really inexpensive, especially compared to the U.S. The one problem is oyster cards (which are a must if you are in London for an extended period of time) are pretty expensive.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100-150

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • internship opportunities
  • very helpful information on London and UK from staff
* What could be improved?
  • nothing I can think of
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The more detailed/nuanced differences between American and English cultures.