A Semester at SOAS Past Review
By Hannah Y (Anthropology., Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/22/2014 to 12/12/2014 with
SOAS, University of London: London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I really liked experiencing the UK education system. It helped me decide what I'd like to do in the future for my postgrad degree and even career.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living in Dinwiddy House, one of the student accommodation halls that SOAS is affiliated with, was a great option for me. It is in a very convenient and central location, is affordable compared to other options, and provides good opportunities to meet other SOAS students. |
| * Food: |
I loved being able to cook for myself while living in student accommodation. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Its so easy to integrate oneself into local culture in London, especially if you are used to urban life in general. London is a great city with endless options for things to do, its just a matter of finding the niche that you're interested in. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The healthcare system experience that I had in the UK was much more efficient than what I am used to at home. The University College London Hospital is extremely accessible and was a good option for me when I needed to see a doctor while abroad. |
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | approx. 100 pounds |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | There are a lot of free options even in an expensive city like London, so its important to find them early on so you can budget throughout your stay. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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 knew that I could have stayed in my dorm until January before booking my flight! |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
