Summer Study Abroad in London Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I really enjoyed the course that I took which was entitled "Atypical Childhood Development". Although the course itself was only 2 weeks long, I felt like I gained a lot of information without being overwhelmed. The grading was fair, it was based on written assignments that were turned in at the end of the course and a final written exam. It was definitely comparable to the education I was receiving at UCSD.

On-site administration of your program

I felt that my experience was a great one because I was taken care of two-fold. I had both the GSE onsite director and the Middlesex Summer School team at my disposal. Mike, the GSE Onsite Director, was a really nice and funny guy who was always willing to give us suggestions on places to visit while in London and also made the GSE excursions a blast. Laviza, the Middlesex Summer School director and the rest of her team were great as well. They were more involved in the workings of Middlesex University and the summer school program. They were there to help us with our classes and also made the summer school's activities really fun.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The school is located about 30 minutes outside of the center of London which I enjoyed because I felt like it was a nice escape from the city, yet London was close enough to go and experience everyday or night. Middlesex University's Trent Park campus was sprawling and beautiful; it actually served as one of the hunting grounds for King Henry IV. The dorms were nice in that they were all singles which was a nice change since I was used to living in triples at UCSD. All the furniture and bedding was provided.

The cafeteria tried their best to accomodate for students' diets however the food is what you would expect from a cafeteria setting. The food is provided with the program price, Monday-Friday 2 meals a day. That was convenient in that I wasn't always spending money on food.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I would say my social and cultural experience is what made the trip absolutely an experience of a lifetime! The trips were great and helped me to experience a lot more of the United Kingdom and Europe (and they were also included with the program price!). My favorite trip GSE provided was definitely the weekend trip to Edinburgh; it is an absolutely beautiful city with so much history. The Middlesex University Summer School also provided a trip to Paris which was amazing!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The city was very safe but of course one must be cautious. Especially being in a new environment, paying attention to your surroundings is key.

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

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• International Students
• Americans
• Local Students