Loved London with no regrets... Global Experiences just AVERAGE Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This was solely an internship experience. There weren't any courses available to take while abroad with Global Experiences. You could arrange something with your home university.

On-site administration of your program

Melissa was ALWAYS helpful. She was just a phone call away. However, she was in hiding most of the time. She didn't really attend any of the day trips. Grace was also very available. She could be helpful too. The availability of the two were awesome. However, many of us wondered what they did in their spare time. At the beginning, we were under the impression that they would keep physical contact with us throughout the summer. However, we only were contacted through Facebook. This is completely unprofessional. Facebook is a social network, not a business oriented network. If you want to schedule or arrange a meeting, send an email. I received many "messages" through Facebook. This was okay at first. As the summer went on, it got out of hand. Send a professional email rather than inboxing me on Facebook. Paying $$$$ of dollars you would also expect a little more out of the program. At the end of the program there was a MAJOR surplus to the social budget. With this, they added many "social" events right at the end. I thought this was unprofessional. They claim that this was due to people not attending the social events earlier in the summer (if you didn't show, they didn't have to pay so they wouldn't spend as much). As a Finance major I understand budgeting and understand proper budgeting. However, with a little bit of forecasting and analysis of past summers, Global Experiences could have and should have budged better. Maybe a Finance guru should take care of finances instead of Psychology and Environmental Science major. Also, the program advisors/directors travel quite a bit during the program. People from the Massachusetts office fly to Europe to "meet, greet, and say goodbye" to interns in all the places in Europe. I am sorry, but that is completely unnecessary. We won't every see or hear from you again, what's the point? That could be cut out of the programs budget to cut the programs' cost.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Nido - Kings Cross is the place where you stay. This place is renovated and nice. Also, it is very accessible and convient. That's all that it has going for it. Global Experiences made it seem that you had a kitchen in your room. This was not the case. It was a communal kitchen down the hall. The double rooms are tiny. Less than 200 square feet for both your roommate and you. There is no Air Conditioning either. I understand that it doesn't get hot there but you would think that they would have a fan or something else to ventilate their rooms. The "customer service" you receive at Nido is AWFUL. The management team is terrible. They are rude to everyone. Ask anyone in my program, they will say the same thing. You would think that they would give you a little respect if you pay thousands of dollars to live there. No. They talk back to you and throw tantrums. If they were employed in the US, they would be fired. They won't let you pick up your packages until after 7pm. I had a credit card and was traveling to Amsterdam at noon that day. They wouldn't let me get my card. They said that I would have to wait. I literally laughed and asked to speak to a manager and he continued to say that it wasn't feasible. This happened to me every time I had a package. The ladies in the cafe are the only nice employees.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

London is full of every culture, so you will have to get out and enjoy it. The neighborhood that Nido- King's Cross is Islington/Angel and it is okay. Not too crazy.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

London is one of the largest cities in the world. Hold your things close to you. Fortunately, I felt safe. However, I know some who had things stolen.

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

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The Outright Urbanite