Adventurous, Cozy, and Enlightening Experience in London July 15, 2024
By A student (drama and english, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/10/2024 to 06/01/2024 with
Arcadia: London - Queen Mary University of London
100% worthwhile. I learned so much about English culture, how to enjoy life in the moment, loving being alone, the ability to make friends with different backgrounds and cultures, the excitement from spontaneous travel
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The English Walking the City Class I took was excellent, which is why this rating has the number of stars it does. The class allowed me to immerse myself in discussions around English literature and experience London in a unique way. My drama classes were less rigorous and not very stimulating. The drama program is focused on critiquing plays and has little practical studies. There were limited resources and a strict grading scale for arbitrary items. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I found it very difficult to find housing that met my accommodation needs as a religious Jew. I started out in a horrible housing situation, with little help from Queen Mary or Arcadia in finding housing. However, when I expressed my discomfort to an Arcadia advisor, she contacted the program and found me a new housing placement from within the Arcadia program that met my needs. She was incredibly empathetic and understanding, and the housing I moved into was beyond a beautiful and caring environment. |
| * Food: |
Once I was given my own kitchen, I was very satisfied with the food available to me on the program. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The program was very helpful in explaining how to book an appointment and how everything worked when I had an issue with my ear |
| * Safety: |
Do not put your phone in your pocket, especially in Paris! Keep it hidden in a purse or fanny pack and have the Arcadia numbers written down on a piece of paper when traveling just in case your phone is stolen |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
Maybe I would choose the Arcadia program because housing is easier with them... Or potentially I would've applied to a more rigorous university like UCL but I wanted time to explore and travel, so it's hard to say |
Finances
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* 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Paris is a dangerous place |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
