Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I will always Love London!!! Past Review

By (Theatre Studies, Brigham Young University) - abroad from 04/24/2012 to 06/08/2012 with

Brigham Young University: London - London Theatre Study Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned independence that gave me a sense of confidence. I mastered public transportation & let's be honest, that's a biggie. I saw incredible theatre. It was a worthwhile experience that I will always remember.

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.

The rigor of the classes were adequate. I loved that London was our classroom and we never stopped learning.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The Foundation for International Education was a great host. We had easy access to their laundry facilities and the rules were already ones from BYU if not a step down...

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Our flat was awesome & in a great location (Hyde Park). However, 5 girls sharing ONE bathroom was a little difficult to navigate.

* Food:

Unfortunately, food was not provided on the program...I would give london food 3.5-4 stars because I was a little daring with my choices.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt like a true Londoner. I never felt like I was a tourist or "just visiting." London was my home for about 2 months.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

It's unfair to rate this because I did not have an experience with healthcare on my trip...

* Safety:

Safety was never an issue. My group prepped us well. I was out "late" (10pm) one night at a show by myself & had no problems getting home. My teachers were really great about that. I felt confident & people knew where I was & when to expect me home. I was just smart about it.

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? Overall, probably $250 on food per week. Other expenses depend on your budget.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If your on a budget decide where you want to spend. Do you want to cut back on food to see more shows & buy stuff? Is seeing shows more important to you than souvenirs? It's about balance...unless you can afford it all.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • I loved the independence that I gained from living & studying abroad.
  • I loved my group...they are awesome.
  • I enjoyed learning more about another city/culture & how they view ours.
* What could be improved?
  • I wish the trip was longer....
  • There needs to be another bathroom in our flat....
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had planned what I wanted to do & see a little better. I wish that I would "go with the flow" more.