Arcadia London Internship Made Me Consider Working and Living in the UK Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The diversity course was not engaging, and I felt like a lot of the information was stuff I had learned in my business courses at UT. The internship, on the other hand, was very educational, and I felt like I took a lot from it because I genuinely wanted to put my full effort into it. It also gave me a great opportunity to network and make some great international contacts in my industry.

On-site administration of your program

They spent a lot of time with us at the beginning, and after that it was sometimes hard to meet with them if we were living in a different part of London than the offices. Some issues were taken care of in a timely manner, others not so much. We had a case of viral meningitis in our house towards the beginning of the program, and procedures were handled in a timely and professional matter. They were very knowledgable about the UK and American higher education (many administrators were American). Overall, my basic expectations were met.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The house I lived in is owned by Arcadia. It's located between Hackney and Islington, in a fairly safe neighborhood. It was conveniently close to City University, and is about a 10 minute walk from 2 Tube stations, with a bus stop right outside. Most people had single rooms, but there were about 5 or so double rooms. Each room had a bed, wardrobe, desk, sink, and refrigerator. It was an old house that had been updated; there were 4 floors of living space and a basement with no elevator. Like most places in London, there was no air conditioning, but the weather was pleasant enough to open windows, and there were table fans in most rooms. There was a kitchen and living area on each floor. There were some pubs and many restaurants within walking distance, and it was easy to use public transportation to get to clubs, bars, and pubs in other neighborhoods. We had to buy sheets and towels when we got there, but a comforter and pillow were provided by Arcadia. Cookware and such was provided in all the kitchens. There were laundry facilities in the basement

Cooking was up to us, so it was as good as we made it. There were markets nearby and the #1 farmers' market in London was less than 10 minutes away (it's open every Sunday). Most of the restaurants in the area around the house are reasonably priced with good food. And yes, there are American restaurants nearby for those missing food from home. Many cafés charge you 50p or so extra if you eat in.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I had hoped there would be trips planned outside of England, but there weren't. I didn't get to do the trips outside of London (Cambridge and Wales) because they filled up, but I enjoyed doing a Bollywood dance class and seeing 2 plays (one was Henry VIII at Shakespeare's Globe). I travelled to places like Oxford, Bath, and Brighton with friends on our own.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

London is as safe as any major city. You just have to be aware of your surroundings. Don't walk alone late at night with your iPod on, wash your hands, etc. There was a case of viral meningitis in my house, but it is suspected that the girl was carrying it before she arrived in London. Arcadia provided health insurance, and gave us information about medical care when we arrived. There are drug stores everywhere to buy cough medicine, pain killers, etc. You just have to figure out the British equivalents of what you're used to taking at home. I didn't need any vaccines specifically for this program. UT just required I be cleared by a doctor (as all students are).

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Americans