Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Go to London, but not necessarily with this program Past Review

By (Sociology., Trinity University) - abroad from 09/01/2012 to 12/15/2012 with

Boston University: London - London Internship Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Most of what I learned was due to my internship at a small social media public relations company. My coworkers were fantastic and really made me feel like a part of the family. They took very good care of me, and going to work was one of the best experiences of my life.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I loved most of my classes, especially those with a field work component.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Some things were handled very, very poorly. Issues with billing and nonresponsiveness to student complaints.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

We weren't given any by the program.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt really well integrated, but not much of that had to do with the program itself.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

My health issues were fine, but there was an instance of a girl who needed to be removed from the program because she had mental health issues. The administration did a very poor job handling the situation, and the girl became a safety hazard to herself and those around her. She was not taken to get help for far too long.

* Safety:

I felt very, very safe in London. As a girl, I wouldn't walk around at night alone, but I didn't mind being with others even very late around the city.

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)

London is very, very expensive. There's really no way around it.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ~$100-150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook as much as possible. I tried to only eat out once a week, maybe twice.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • N/A
* 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?
  • Internship component
  • Classes with field trips
* What could be improved?
  • Administrative responsiveness
  • Program fees are too high
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Better budgeting.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.