Self-Discovery Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/03/2017 to 05/16/2017 with
Arcadia: London - SOAS, University of London
I learned about myself, and how I react to change and new environments. I learned more about my academic interests and career goals.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academic rigor was high, however, professors made themselves very available, and all had office hours. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Through Arcadia, I had free social events, a computer lab, and writing workshops at my disposal. Though I rarely, virtually never, utilized these resources, because I did not need them personally, it was reassuring to know they were available. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I liked my room accommodations; I was able to have a single room with my own bathroom. However, for the last several weeks of my stay, during finals period no less, there was no Internet, which was incredibly stressful as I tried to study for exams. Also, the laundry, which is done through an app, frequently malfunctioned, restricting my access to clean clothes. |
| * Food: |
I had to completely provide for myself in terms of food. It was not provided by Dinwiddy. Luckily, there were many supermarkets/grocery stores in the surrounding area. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The flat set-up of the dorms facilitated sociocultural interactions with students from across the world, and the students in my courses in general at SOAS were a diverse group. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no health issues while abroad, but I felt covered just in case. |
| * Safety: |
I experienced no issues with safety or loss of personal property while in London. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The course offerings at SOAS are not available anywhere else, and I grew so much intellectually during my time abroad. |
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) |
London is incredibly expensive. Just paying for the basics, such as food, burned a hole in my pocket, so to speak. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Not sure |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Create a weekly budget. Do not eat out a lot. Try to make your own food as much as possible. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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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? | You determine how good your experience will be, and you carry any issues that you may have had in the States with you abroad. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
