Good, but not sure if I would choose this program again Past Review
By A student (English, Classical Civilization, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/07/2013 to 06/07/2013 with
University College London (UCL): London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I gained independence and resilience, which were important and worthwhile lessons to learn, although I did not like the way I had to learn them.
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I have mixed feelings about the academics. The English department was not my favorite - I found my lectures mixed, because different professors held different lectures. I did, however enjoy my Shakespeare seminar (not the lectures) and my personal tutor was excellent as well. The Greek and Latin department was good. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I did not feel incredibly oriented after the two day introduction. It covered the bare bones, but did not make me feel like I belonged in the program. |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The rating is higher because of the proximity to the campus and central London. Other than that, I had some issues: my food was stolen several times, the toilets in my hall never seemed to work, it was dirty, and it was not accessible, which was a problem when I broke my foot and was on crutches. |
* Food: |
The food in my residence hall was terrible (hence the low rating). Although breakfast was standard enough, I eventually turned to getting my own. I kept getting sick from dinner. I felt uncomfortable that my the dining hall workers served us only certain amounts of food and would not allow us to have seconds - clearly they cooked for very specific amounts of people. Eventually, I began to buy my own food, which, while more expensive, was a better choice for me, and most of the food I bought for myself was good. |
* 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 the unfortunate experience of breaking my foot during my stay in London. I did register with a GP during the first week, which was a good move. While UCL's practice was quite nice and advised me to go to the hospital, I had some other issues. I found that I was not able to actually speak with my doctor on the phone and had to go through secretaries (at one point I tried to make a request for a doctor, and the secretary had to email him, wait for a response, and call me back with it). |
* Safety: |
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If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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) |
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Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $100 |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you commute frequently, get a student Oyster card, which will work not only on the tube, but most aspects of the transport system. |
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
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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 did not realize how little help from the university I would have to adjust to UCL and to London. I was not prepared to be thrown into the semester without much help. |
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! |