East London Past Review
By Margaret Olmsted (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/16/2019 to 12/13/2019 with
Queen Mary University of London Study Abroad programme
It was interesting to see how big universities run classes. It was also interesting to be in a co-ed school. My instructors were really excellent. I wish that they classes had met more often so I could've learned a bit more.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I enjoyed my classes but I found that the coursework was not effectively spread across the semester. Each course only required 2 graded papers, which I think is a little high-stakes. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Global Opportunities team at Queen Mary was exceptional and very involved. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The rooms are excellent. They supply mini-fridges and private bathrooms. |
| * Food: |
The food was tasty but expensive. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have an experience with the health care. Plan B was free, which is nice. |
| * Safety: |
Overall, it was fine, however, another student who lived in my building was stabbed just outside of our building. I would not say it's a super safe neighborhood but I didn't personally have any issues. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It was nice to be in East London. It was beautiful sometimes and the friends I made were great. I was mostly glad for a break from my rigorous-to-the-point-of-being-soul-crushing small liberal arts college. |
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) |
It was very possible to live on $100 per week but it was not easy. Transportation was very expensive and the tourist-y things add up. Inexpensive grocery stores were very accessible. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100, sometimes more |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't have people visit you because you will spend money trying to spend time with them. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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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* 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? | I wish I had known that it is way easier to go abroad when you go with students that you know. I wish that I had come in with friends. |
