Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Go, See, Conquer!! Past Review

By (University of Missouri - Columbia) - abroad from 01/09/2018 to 04/28/2018 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: London, England

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was so worth it! I learned so much about myself and about how truly diverse the world is. It gave me a different view of life and how everyone else lives their's.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I loved my instructor, Richard, he made class fun and enjoyable even when we were learning about some really hard things. His knowledge of the city and British culture helped me feel more at home right away and also lead me to have a greater appreciation for London and the whole UK.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Everyone at the CAPA center is so helpful and they really want you to enjoy your time in London as well as Europe as a whole.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We lived in Maida Vale which is walking distance from some of the most beautiful parks. Our flats were so nice and spacious for how close into the city we were.

* Food:

We lived in a flat so we prepared all of our meals ourselves, but they made sure to house us close by several large grocery stores which made shopping a breeze.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We constantly were interacting with the people and had so many field trips to interesting places all over the city.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had to use the healthcare plan we were set up with, but it was nice to know that CAPA has a really well developed plan in place to help with health related issues.

* Safety:

London is so safe, or at least where we were, and the CAPA staff do a great job making everyone feel as safe as possible.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I would do this program over again in a heartbeat, it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career.

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 an expensive city to live in, like New York or any other big city. You need to budget and spend wisely but it is totally doable.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $70-$100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't feel like you have to pay money to have fun, there is so much to do in the city (London) that is free, make sure to check that stuff out too because it is often just as exciting as the things that cost.

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

  • 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?
  • Teaching
  • Excursions
  • Internship Opportunities
* What could be improved?
  • Housing - more options
  • Length of classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how fast it was going to go by, and just to really try to live in the moment and soak everything up as best I could instead of rushing to do the next thing all the time.

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.