Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Loving Life in Londontown! Past Review

By (Communication & Media Studies, Fordham University) for

Boston University: London - London Internship Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My experience was definitely worthwhile. I learned a lot from working and living in another culture, have a new appreciation for the UK culture, and saw so many different places in Europe. Learning about those places and cultures was an incredible experience. I would not trade my semester abroad for anything.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My instructors were very engaged and active in teaching the class, as were the students I worked with. The students got out of the class what they put into it, and the instructors understood that and just focused on presenting and teaching rather than berating over our levels of interest.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I felt very safe in my building, The Crofton. We did have a desk guard at all hours. It would be hard to sign guests in because of the visiting hour policy.

* Food:

I cooked my own meals, so I would food shop weekly. It would have been nice if the program had offered more discounts or deals with local grocery stores.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I enjoyed our orientation excursions and being immersed in the culture in my internship. Taking classes with only American students was a bit limiting; I wish to that extent the program had mixed us in with local students more.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt very safe in the city. I was rarely alone, but when I was I was aware of my surroundings, kept alert, and never encountered a problem.

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)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? £30-40
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? When grocery shopping, buy that store's brands whenever you can- it is usually cheaper. Try to portion/ration out your food at the beginning of the week, or plan what you'll cook for dinner, so you won't have to go grocery shopping as much and end up getting things you don't really need. Keep an Excel spreadsheet log with everything you spend cash/credit card for- it will help you keep track and help if you ever run into credit card fraud issues.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No
How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Apartment
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • I loved the way that we got to experience the city. Interning in London was such a unique experience, and introduced me to the culture and way of life that I would not have experienced in another program.
  • I also liked the housing program in that we were placed with roommates. It made the experience much more enjoyable, as I got to go through it and share my experiences with others. We all came from different schools, homes, and backgrounds, but became friends and shared a life-changing experience together.
* What could be improved?
  • I think the integration with local UK students could have been done better- except in my internship, I did not take any classes or have any BU-sponsored encounters with local students.
  • A discount plan or special deal with a laundromat and grocery store would have helped with some of the living expenses.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? N/A

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.