Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Life-Changing Experience Past Review

By (Business, University of Mississippi) - abroad from 09/02/2014 to 12/13/2014 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: London, England

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much about myself and the world. I realized that I lived in a bubble, and needed to gain perspective. I saw how other people and countries lived, and it taught me to be more open and learn to love whatever I was exposed to. It was incredibly worthwhile and rewarding.

Review Photos

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: London, England Photo CEA CAPA Education Abroad: London, England Photo CEA CAPA Education Abroad: London, England Photo CEA CAPA Education Abroad: London, England Photo CEA CAPA Education Abroad: London, England Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were incredibly fascinating and allowed students to explore London in new and exciting ways. I saw museums, visited different parts of the city, and walked through history.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The staff was AMAZING. They were accessible whenever we needed them, and loved hearing about all of our adventures.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved where I lived in Sheperd's Bush. It was fun, it was cultural, and there was a big source of fun foods to eat and pubs to explore.

* Food:

British food is not really that great. There are however such ethnic foods to try out and explore and love. The best fish and chips I had were next to the Tower of London. There were great ethnics foods next to where I lived, worked, and went to school.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The locals were incredibly friendly and inviting. They loved learning about us and had great places to visit that they shared with us.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Healthcare in London is free, so when I got really sick with bronchitis, I just went to the emergency room and got all the care I needed. CAPA was really supportive of me if I needed explanation on an assignment because I missed class.

* Safety:

I felt incredibly safe in London. CAPA had security set up for students, and it was easy to monitor who came in and out of the housing. If things were suspicious, CAPA took care of it by implementing new policies. If there was a tube strike, or city threat, CAPA made sure that we felt safe and were all allowed to explore normally.

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)

I lived on a student budget, but also knew that i would have to spend more than what was normal for me at my university at home.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Less than $200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Look on GroupOn or WSA or Bus2Alps for deals on trips. Flights out on Thursday Evening and early Sunday morning were generally the cheapest.

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

  • Americans
* 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?
  • The people I lived with
  • London itself
  • The classes i took
* What could be improved?
  • More time in London
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish that people just took a breath before they left. Everyone is in the same position. They are new to studying abroad and so are you, and everyone is so nice. Just take a breath, and know that it'll be okay.

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.