Can I go back? Past Review
By Natalie W (Public Relations, Advertising, Applied Communication, Pennsylvania State University - University Park / Penn State) - abroad from 09/01/2015 to 12/19/2015 with
IES Abroad: London - Study London
I gained a new sense of independence that I didn't realize I had before! My navigation skills improved and I felt extremely comfortable wandering around the city by myself without a fear of getting lost or being alone. I also learned so much about different cultures which allowed me to see American culture from a different perspective!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were extremely interesting and the professors knew a lot and were passionate about what they were teaching. There was not a lot of homework however there were exams and term papers that require a significant amount of time for studying/writing--I would not say they were easy but they were definitely manageable! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff members were extremely helpful and many of them are young! They give great recommendations about where the best food, shopping, nightlife in the city is and answer any questions you may have! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorm was extremely nice and the location was amazing (being right next to Kings Cross was a huge plus). However, the staff was not helpful all the time and the laundry is extremely expensive. The location definitely makes up for it though! |
| * Food: |
There are lots of wonderful places to eat in London and so many different types of foods! However if you go out to eat constantly you will burn a hole in your wallet. My floor mates and I would cook dinner together during the week and this helped us become closer and also save a bit of money! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
When I was studying in London I felt like a Londoner! However, not being directly enrolled I was not able to socialize with many local students. IES does work with Student Central though and gives you the opportunity to join university clubs and activities--it's something I wish I took advantage of when I was abroad. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have an experience with healthcare but a few of my friends had some health issues and IES was extremely helpful. They also understand if you can't make it to class because you are not feeling well! |
| * Safety: |
I felt extremely safe with IES while in London. I was in London during the Paris attacks and although security heightened a bit after--IES made sure that we were all safe and daily activities continued as usual. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Warning: London is expensive! I spent about $200 a week on food, events, souvenirs, and travels. Be prepared to spend a lot. However, London does offer student discounts on almost everything if your show your student ID - make sure to ask! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | As I said before, I wish I knew to become more involved in the local student life by joining clubs through Student Central! While I learned a ton about UK culture I wish I was able to learn more about student culture from actual UK students. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
