Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Tough all around, but worth it Past Review

By (Political Science and Government, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/22/2014 to 12/12/2014 with

University College London (UCL): London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile. I didn't realize going in how helpful it would have been to be a part of a study abroad program, rather than directly enrolling. I sometimes felt lost, as UCL is so big, and London is so big. It would have been great to have a program to direct us in that first week or two, to help get my bearings. However, I gained a true sense of independence. I had to figure out a lot on my own, and I was doing things by myself a lot of the time.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Courses were very difficult. Level of attention from professors a was very different because UCL is so much bigger than Middlebury.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

The dining hall in my dorm was terrible and the meal times were very inconvenient with my class schedule - ended up having to eat out a lot.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very comfortable in the social settings, and had a ton of fun!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't really have any health problems, so it was never an issue that came up.

* Safety:

I felt very safe, even in a big city. I felt that my housing did a good job in terms of security. I was close to campus, so if I had to stay up late doing work, I wasn't ever scared going home.

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)

London is obviously very expensive. It helped that I had help from my parents. With the dining hall services not very good, I was forced to eat out more often than I would have liked, as I did not have a kitchen in my dorm.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Probably 300 pounds.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Keep a log on excel of everything you purchase.

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

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* 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?
  • That it was in London!
* What could be improved?
  • The ease to accessing information
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That you have to take advantage of it the whole time - even if you're sad sometimes and lonely, remember how much of a fun time it is to experience a city like London.

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:

Nietzche

Course Department: Philosophy
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Very challenging course - the discussion sections were very enlightening. Professor was brilliant.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Introduction to Political Philosophy
Course Department: Philosophy
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was a huge class, nothing I have ever experienced at Middlebury. Didn't have much interaction with the professor outside of class, and lectures were very different than the readings. Overall, interesting, but I much prefer small class sizes.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Introduction to International Security

Course Department: Political Science
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was all about the security issues that confront our world in the modern era. The professor was awesome, and discussions were always fun, engaging, and interactive. She is a very tough grader. There were two papers throughout the term.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Politics of the European Union
Course Department: Political Science
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was rather dry, to be honest. It could be that the EU is so complicated and was hard to understand in one term. There were two papers throughout the term. Professor was a fair grader.
Credit Transfer Issues: