The Best Semester of My Life Past Review

By Breanna R (College of Saint Rose) - abroad from 01/20/2012 to 05/07/2012 with

Regent’s University London: Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned to appreciate other cultures and to be open to new experiences. Being abroad brought me completely outside of my comfort zone and forced me into situations that I ordinarily would not find myself in. I saw only a small portion of what the world has to offer and I gained a sense of independence and confidence that I did not have when I left America. It was 1000000% worth it and I would do it all over again, exactly as I did it in a heartbeat.

Review Photos

Regent's American College London: London - Direct Enrollment/Exchange Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Anyone that had a part, no matter how large or small, in the admin of my Program was truly exceptional. I never felt lost or confused and I could truly tell that my professors cared about my time and experiences whilst in London. I also always had nothing but pleasant interactions with the administrators that I dealt with only a couple of times throughout the semester.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	The dorms were a very nice size with a great view of the green. However, my Room in particular did not have wifi access and it was not fixed until the end of the semester.
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	The RAs and William at RACL were a big part of my successful integration as they really gave me some useful information.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I was sick numerous time during the semester and William was always more than willing to make me a doctors appointment which was extremely helpful. I always was able to get there when I needed to and the location was extremely convenient as well.
* Safety:
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

Finances

* 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)	Definitely not as easily as I did at my home institution, but it was not really a concern because of the experiences I gained.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$300
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Book any trips as early and as in expensively as possible. And don't forget about the conversion rate.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
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?	The school's location The class choices
* What could be improved?	More interaction with RACL students that don't live in Reid Hall
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I had had a more realistic budget of what I would be spending, given how much I traveled while I was 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 Outright Urbanite A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Musical Theater
Course Department:
Instructor:	Olaf Jubin
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This is was definitely my favorite class that I took whilst abroad. The class itself was extremely interesting and entertaining. Professor Jubin showed a great interest in the subject and was very knowledgable. The course also made great use of the fact that we were in London, as the plays he took us to brought us to theaters all over the city, not just necessarily in the West End. I definitely participated in this class far more than in classes I take at my home institution. Whenever I hear that someone is attending Regents, I always recommend that they take this course as it was by far one of the most rewarding experiences that I had in my time in London.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No I had no problems transferring the credits.