Learning about each and EVERYTHING and how to live alone. Past Review

By A student (Marketing And International Business, Villanova University) - abroad from 09/25/2012 to 12/21/2012 with

City, University of London: Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

It was an absolutely worthwhile experience and I really do love London. That's not to say it wasn't incredibly hard to adjust to living in a single in a completely new city in which I was completely responsible for making meals, travelling, and site seeing though. It was scary and hard, but I really grew up while I was there and learned things about myself and the world that I never would have guessed.

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.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Liberty Hall was incredibly convenient in terms of its distance from City University, but I absolutely hated living in a single. It was really lonely, and even though we had communal kitchens, it was incredibly quiet and I felt very isolated from fellow students. Also, the laundry room in the building is not the most ideal, considering cost and ease of getting their, especially from my room on the third (400s) floor.
* Food:	It's London.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	The health center at City University is fabulous. I had a friend with health issues a few times throughout the semester and she had nothing but good things to say about how supportive the nurse practitioner was.
* Safety:	City U is in a decent part of London, and I never felt unsafe. There were at least two times, however, that residents in Liberty Hall had their iPhones stolen from them on the street right outside the building in broad daylight though. Overall, I think it's just about making sure you're actually aware of your surroundings as to not put yourself in those kinds of situations. They are 100% avoidable and should not make you think twice about studying in London.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No

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's an expensive city, it's important to realize that going in and trying not to worry too much about it while you're there is best.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Making big "family" dinners with friends is a cheap way to have fun and save money if everyone's contributing. Plus it prevents you from having a ton of extra random ingredients since you have such a big group. Student Oyster cards can be ordered in advance online and lets you pay only about half for the Tube, buses, etc. make sure you say you're studying for longer than six months... even if you're not Wherever you travel always ask for student discounts, they are EVERYWHERE, especially at museums and shows.

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	Local Students Americans International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans 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?	Having Americans to travel with Meeting other Americans from all over the US How easy the classes were
* What could be improved?	HAVING A ROOMMATE! Meeting more local and international students Location
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I would have known how hard it would have been to adjust to being somewhere without anyone I really knew well. I was more homesick than I've ever been, which is totally unlike me, and I wish I would have convinced a friend to go with, because if I had, I know I never would have wanted to leave London.

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.