Canterbury was the best 3 months of my life Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was not a lot at all. It left you plenty of time to explore and form amazing relationships with local students. The grading system is different but the tutors know it and so most of them (mine at least) break it down for you. There's a lot of differences but none of them are bad, they're just different. It's more of something you have to go through yourself to understand.

On-site administration of your program

Sometimes they were unorganized, but I'm pretty sure that's just how schools in England are. Everything gets done though. Just have patience.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in campus housing on Vernon Place but it wasn't like a dorm room. It was a house with mostly American students and a few Russians. Each person has a room to themselves and it was wonderful. You're provided with bedding and cooking utensils. Bring some towels and then just leave them behind so you'll have extra room in your suitcase.. or bring one and buy more when you get there. I felt safe all the time. Great shopping was less than 10 minutes away and there was a grocery store called Netto literally 30 seconds from the house. Another grocery store called Tesco is really close too and has more to choose from but Netto is good for a quick milk and bread run. The Jolly Sailor is where a lot of the CCCU students end up at on the weekends and that's about a 15 minute walk. The club called Chemistry but referred to as BaaBars is about a 10 minute walk. Don't forget you have to study too: The library probably isn't even a 5 minute walk which is great. The school campus.. once you find the best route is only about 10 minutes also. I never felt unsafe there. Oh and Vernon Place is only about a 5 minute walk to the bus station. (My friends and I always took the National Express bus at the station to London.. great way to travel to London check out the website)

I didn't eat out very often, but I have to say that Pizza Express was one of my personal favorites. Cornwall's is pretty delicious also. Oh and the fish and chips shop on St. Margaret's Street is delicious.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Celebrate Guy Fawkes Day! On the weekend they have a firework show and bonfires in different towns to commemorate the day. I found a way to go to a town called Rye for their celebration and it was amazing! The school takes you on 5 field trips. The trips my group was taken on were 2 to London, 1 weekend to see Stonehenge, Bath, Windsor, and Oxford, 1 day in Dover, and then a little tour of Canterbury. Make sure you visit London on your own too though, because you don't see everything on the field trip. Also, don't be afraid to use the London underground system.. it's super easy! Just go to the information booth and have them help you the first time.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The city seemed really safe to me. They have CCTV cameras everywhere and the police are pretty good at keeping things in order. I don't mean to say they're constantly watching your every move, they just aren't too far if you need them. I didn't have any health issues.. when I didn't feel well I just went to Boots, which is similar to Walgreens, and bought what I needed to feel better. I only know that you should only go to the doctor if something is seriously wrong, because Europe's healthcare system is not as in depth as ours. One of my friends paid 35 pounds just to be told she had a virus and she should wait it out and drink lots of water.

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

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• Other

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• Americans
• International Students

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