Endless Opportunities January 13, 2022
By Aaron Felcher (University of Puget Sound) - abroad from 09/18/2021 to 12/17/2021 with
Queen Mary University of London Study Abroad programme
Immersing yourself in a different culture is a great opportunity to grow as a person. No, the UK isn't all that different from the US in many respects, but it was awesome to meet new faces, with new worldviews, and experience all that London had to offer. Of course, there were some restrictions with COVID, but by and large I was still able to do what I wanted - and travel across Europe as well, time and finances permitting! Would highly recommend both Queen Mary and London to students looking to study abroad.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes were a different speed at times, a little less rigorous than back home, with less frequent assignments and more hands-off learning. Despite that, it was a fun experience to see what academic culture is like in the UK! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Queen Mary international office is wonderful. Each and every member I interacted with was kind, dedicated, and willing to go the extra mile to make my experience comfortable and worthwhile. Special thanks to Jessica Tan and Harry Gibney. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Suite living (in Pooley House) at Queen Mary is enjoyable, as long as you're prepared to live with some younger first year students! Individual rooms - and bathrooms - was a huge plus. |
| * Food: |
Personal preference, but I'd say you're better off cooking for yourself and/or eating off campus. |
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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? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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) |
Don't get me wrong, London is not cheap! So prepare yourself for that. However, utilizing your local Tesco, Sainsbury's, or Co-Op for groceries saved me a ton of money. Pick and choose your times to eat out, to shop, and to splurge. |
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 better prepared myself to expect the unexpected! Studying abroad, inevitably, is a lot of thinking on your feet and going with the flow. I am someone who likes structure and simplicity, but I grew to embrace uncertainty and spontaneity during my time there. |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
