Past Review
By Megan C (Political Economy., Tulane University) for
London School of Economics (LSE): London - General Course, Year-Long Study Abroad Programme
It was intellectually enriching, but the personal growth is what was most valuable to me. It made me more independent, better able to handle myself in adverse situations, and even gave me a better ability to handle money. LSE in particular exposed me to a diverse student body and a different manner of education.
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Full-Year 2008 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was very difficult, but I learned a lot, about subjects or courses that wouldn't have turned up at Tulane. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They switched deans in the middle of the year, so it's hard to evaluate. I didn't feel like they were particularly helpful, but they weren't out to get us, either. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
y, what a place to live. It's clean, the rooms are roomy, and the en-suite bathroom was a luxury. But UK dorms are totally unsupervised when compared to the US R/A system. There is a "subwarden" on every other floor, and there is very little supervision. They locked the lounges at 11pm each night, so after 11 there was no place for people to go, so they were generally just loud in the hallways. Also, the building is mostly first-year students, many of whom have never lived away from home, so there are aspects of the freshman dorm - fire alarms in the middle of the night for the first few weeks, stuff smashed up, et cetera. The dorm has a cafe, with the cheapest food in London, but you pay for what you get. And paying rent was a colossal pain. It's about a half hour walk to campus, but the walk is quite safe to do in the dark. |
| * Food: |
M&S gets a five, but the cafe gets a 2. If at all possible, get a fridge, which will massively increase your food options. Eating at an actual restaurant is really expensive. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program coordinates some social activities, but you have to do most of it on your own. The only really great thing we did (and it was fantastic!) is an overnight trip to Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park. You spend the weekend in this inn, which is in Windsor Great Park, and you attend some lectures but also get to take country walks and feel super English. We even went to church with the Queen! Definite high point. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Most of the city is fairly safe, but it's just like any other big city. I didn't have any experience with the healthcare system. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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? | Oh, London is insanely expensive. I was comfortable on $150 a week, and could just make it on $90. Food is very expensive. Public transportation is pretty cheap, though taxis are very expensive. Most museums are free, though, which is nice. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | DEFINITELY open a UK bank account - it makes everything miles easier. Also, do not buy clothes before you go, because you will buy a whole new wardrobe once you get there. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
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Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Throw out the window all expectations of what a university should do for you. You have to be independent and able to stand up for yourself (or at the very least willing to fake these qualities) to get through LSE. If your desire is personal growth, this is the place for you. |
