Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My Amazing Adventure Past Review

By (Indiana University - Bloomington) - abroad from 06/06/2016 to 07/23/2016 with

IES Abroad: London - UK Today Summer

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much about myself, the topics I studied, and the history and culture of the UK. I gained a new sense of independence and a new viewpoint of the world.

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

The London IES Centre Staff were friendly, helpful, and really cared about us as students and our experience.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed in the Chapter Residence Hall as arranged by the program, which was a nice place! The only issue I encountered was that the building was under a lot of construction and the management was disorganized at times.

* Food:

The city of London is very diverse and there are so many food options.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not experience any health issues, but I know if I had the IES staff would have helped me with whatever I needed.

* Safety:

The IES staff provide all of the information you need to stay safe in the city and have a great system set up in case of emergencies. My best advice is just to be aware of your surroundings and you will be fine!

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

The IES Program was everything I could have wanted and more! The program really focused on helping us make the most of our trip. They provided us with so many planned events to attend and ideas for things to see and do around the city.

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 a very expensive city to live in, so be prepared for that!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? around $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Take out cash at the beginning of every week and try to not spend any more than that.

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

  • 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • I visited so many places and did so many exciting things in the short 7 weeks that I was abroad. I also made an amazing group a friends that made my experience the best it could have been.
  • The staff were incredible and really cared about us and our experiences.
  • The classes that I took were so worthwhile. I learned a lot and experienced more of the city through them.
* What could be improved?
  • I didn't really make any local friends while I was there. I know this is difficult because the program is not at an actual university with British students and there were some optional opportunities offered for local clubs to join, but I just did not feel like I had the time.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? 7 weeks may seem like a long time, but the summer goes by so fast. Make the most of every day while you can!

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.