London Study Abroad Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Each class met once a week, with a one hour lecture and a two hour seminar for discussion. This was very different from what I was used to but I enjoyed it. The workload was manageable though the written assignments were not what I was accustomed to. The grading system was similar though a 70 was an A.

On-site administration of your program

There was a sense that Arcadia was not particularly helpful. When we arrived at the airport we were put on a bus with no program personnel and told they would see us later. When we were divided up to go to our various dorms, there was a mix up with the buses and again no personnel. Our contact people were often out of the office or otherwise unavailable. Aside from a fairly helpful orientation, I for one had very little contact with Arcadia staff for the duration of my stay.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in the International House. I was told beforehand that I would need to buy sheets, and that I could do so at the front desk without having to preorder anything. When I arrived in the late afternoon, I found out that I could not buy anything at the front desk and would have to find a store in the rain before dark if I wanted bedding that night. The building and rooms definitely looked nicer in the pictures online, and the fire alarm was set off about a dozen times over the three months I was there.

I cooked for myself most of the time - there were several cheap grocery stores within walking distance of the dorm - and sometimes got fast food. Be warned that portion sizes are almost always smaller in England than in America!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Arcadia arranged quite a few field trips. I only went on one, a day trip to Stonehenge and Bath. It went smoothly and was very fun. It was a good chance to catch up with friends I'd made during orientation who had gone to different universities.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

To be safe, I rarely walked around after dark - though that got harder when it started getting dark at 4 in the afternoon - and when I did I did not go alone. I stuck to busy areas even during the day and never really felt like I was in danger. I did not have to seek health care while abroad.

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

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• Dorm

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• International Students

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• I enjoyed the orientation activities, including a scavenger hunt, which helped prepare me for navigating the city on my own.

• Better communication between Arcadia and the students.