A crazy whirlwind of international adventures. Past Review
By Kate Z (Graphic Design., Columbia College Chicago) - abroad from 01/05/2012 to 06/08/2012 with
Study Abroad Programs in England
I gained a broader outlook on life experiences.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Classes are set up so that work is done more independently than classes in the states. The library is open twenty four hours during the last couple weeks of the semester during exams and has plenty of study space. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The staff that welcomed international students was very warm and helpful. They made sure to always be available if we needed any help or had any questions what so ever. The professors were very knowledgable and made sure the internationals were comfortable in adjusting to a different kind of class than what we're used to. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Each person has their own room, depending on the residence building, you can share a large communal bathroom and one or two kitchens with five to twenty-four other people on your floor. |
| * Food: |
There was no dining hall; all residents had a kitchen. There were a few on-campus restaurants/cafes. |
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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 had no health issues while abroad; Athena Study Abroad provided me with supplemental insurance. There was a hospital right across the street. |
| * Safety: |
I felt safe on campus. There was always security around. Within London, it is just like any other big city; be aware of your surroundings and you will be safe. |
| 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) |
The pounds converted to dollars was a shock at first, but groceries are cheap. Be sure to save extra money for the other things you buy to be a little bit more expensive. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | Yes |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | No |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about fifty british pounds/week on expenses |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Check with your bank how much they charge for you to withdraw from an international ATM and how much they charge for an international swipe charge. |
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? | They don't do general education classes, so taking three classes from three different areas of study is like taking classes in three different majors. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
