Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

CIEE Summer in London. The experience of a lifetime! October 14, 2022

By (Journalism, University of Iowa) - abroad from 05/16/2022 to 06/13/2022 with

CIEE: Summer in London

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much about myself and gained newfound independence while I was abroad. It was very worthwhile.

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.

My experience with CIEE was incredible. The staff was so supportive and helped me feel a lot more comfortable in a new situation. I'm so grateful for this experience and will cherish it forever.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration was so supportive and really wanted you to succeed. I felt very comfortable and well-prepared. Not only were they incredible professionals but they also really wanted to get to know us and hear about our lives which was very comforting.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I shared a room with another person. It was similar to dorm style living and we had a little kitchenette to cook in. While the rooms were small, they were very up-to-date and the overall accommodation was incredible. There were multiple study spaces, a gym, a movie theater, a cafe, and a gaming area.

* Food:

Meals weren't provided through my CIEE program so we had to go to the grocery store and get our own food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I stayed right in London and was incredibly close to everything. Because of this, I felt like I got a very good taste of the local culture and environment while I was there.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt so safe in London. Of course, you need to be aware and alert because it is such a big city, but I felt incredibly comfortable doing things by myself and going off on my own.

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

This experience was absolutely incredible. I have never felt more free or happy than when I was studying abroad. My program was wonderful and I felt safe and supported while I was there. I highly recommend looking into CIEE if you are looking into studying abroad because they really are one of a kind.

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 pretty expensive. But there are so many things to do that are free so it can be easy to manage. Most museums are free and there are other activities that cost little to no money. At first, I found it hard to manage but once I got into the swing of things it was okay.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I would say roughly about $200 a week. But it really depended on the week and what my plans were.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try not to eat out so much. It's important to try new restaurants but try to limit yourself because the money can rack up.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • 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?
  • The staff
  • The friends I made while I was abroad
  • The class
* What could be improved?
  • Communication
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It doesn't hurt to ask if you aren't understanding something. It would have saved me a lot of stress if I would have asked for a little more help when I was first starting out.

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.