Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My Time in Egham, England Past Review

By (Marketing., Bentley University) - abroad from 01/03/2013 to 06/10/2013 with

Royal Holloway, University of London: London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I got to meet some very interesting people, and see some things that I otherwise would not have been able to.

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

Not a lot of interaction was necessary.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in Wedderburn. Expensive for what it was, but a great room for any college student.

* Food:

It's England. Find the right restaurants, and find them early.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I don't think any of the students were overly integrated. I also didn't feel much different from how they probably do.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health issues.

* Safety:

Campus seems reasonably safe.

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)

To be perfectly honest, I was spending significantly more money than typical students' budget would be.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100s
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you're okay with terrible food, it won't be very expensive. Otherwise, prepared to pay like I did.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Considering it was England, I spoke English 100% of the time...

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? I have always spoken English...
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • N/A
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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 people
  • The city of London
  • The social scene
* What could be improved?
  • The food
  • The administration
  • School provided transportation
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It is very, very hard to find good food in England.

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 Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.