Ithaca in London: The most rewarding and hilarious experience that was worth every last pound Past Review
By Kristin R (Applied Psychology, Ithaca College) for
Ithaca College: London - Ithaca College London Center
1,000% I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I'm thinking about going to grad school there and possible never coming back to America because I loved it so much. It was difficult and scary but so incredibly amazing and eyeopening. It changed what I want to do with my life and the way I see so many things. I cannot even put in to words how WONDERFUL this program was. I will always think of those months as my best semester in college, if not the most amazing four months of my life.
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 workload was managable, grading system perfect, teaching methods a great mix of lecture and shows/ trips that utilized London in all the right ways. The educational differences were subtle but there if you thought about it. I know it was different but i'm not sure how really. It could be that they did not "baby" you or hold your hand through anything and expected you to be totally self-sufficient with the professor only as a guide or just the style in general. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were all magnificent. Easy to get ahold of, very helpful if you had any kind of issue, and genuienly enjoyed your company and chatting with you about home, your study abroad issues, and daily life in England. They got things done quickly and well, were incredibly knowledgable (especially Bill), the program size was perfect and my expectations were exceeded. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We lived on Edgware Road right by Hyde Park, Oxford Street, and three different Tube Stations. It was very convenient and a great place to live. We all thoroughly enjoyed it even if the area was a bit sketchy. We were a ten minute Tube ride and an hours walk through Hyde Park from school, walking distance from central London, and in a very interesting part of town we would not have found otherwise. The only things we had to buy for our flat were food and cleaning supplies. |
| * Food: |
Go to the Pubs. Fish & Chips mate. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We traveled every single weekend and went to every major European county as well as Morocco. It was an amazing time and, because we saw so much, really appreciated London and New York even more. The shows and events we got to experience in London, like Kevin Spacey in Richard the III and James Cordon in One Man Two Guv's and even the Opera I was dragged too were all just amazing ways to relaly experience all London has to offer. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Very safe- walked around alone all the time and was approached by men but never fet threatened. Very accessable city, healthcare greatly managed, and no vaccines were needed. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | SO MUCH. It was 530 quid a month or $800 for rent. Then there was the food which I tried to spend as little as possible on so ended up eating gross stuff and gaining weight. The trips and traveling were the most expensive but most worthwhile. We traveled on the budget airlines (easyjet and ryanair) and so flew cheap, found the cheapest yet cleanest hostels on hostelworld.com, and tried to eat inexpensivly while in the country though still managed to eat the cultral food. all in all I spent at least $10,000 on everything. Might have been more- it became too depressing to keep track of. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Budget and spend money only on what you really need and want. 1. Rent 2. Travel 3. Food 4. London Sight Seeing (shows, attractions, etc.) 5. Transport (Oyster Card) |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
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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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? | Students who are willing to feel out of place but excited by the change in culture and life would be perfect. Just remember that they love tea, Chruchill was not infalliable, and Brits are proper through and through. |
