I can't imagine not having had this study abroad experience. Past Review
By Remi Kobayashi (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/18/2017 to 05/25/2018 with
University College London (UCL): London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I have lived outside of my home country since I was 5 years old, and I have felt like a perpetual foreigner wherever I lived. London is incredibly diverse, international, and full of students, and I learned that I am most at home in this environment.
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. |
Some courses that I took were very interesting, but the lecture-style courses that most of the courses in my department consisted of were quite dull. The professors differed greatly in their willingness to engage the class and answer questions. The exam system is very different and take a lot of getting used to- in most of my courses in my department, there were no midterms or essays, and the final exam result was 100% of the grade. |
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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? |
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| * Food: |
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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? |
NHS has quite a good coverage for students in London, and a lot of services were free. |
| * Safety: |
Living in the city centre, I did not experience any serious safety incidents. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I had an incredible experience being abroad at UCL. Living in London for a year gave me the opportunity to study with a lot of new people, make lifelong friends, and take courses that are not offered in my home college. I also had a lot of time to do things outside of class- enjoy free art museums, take up a part-time job, go to events around the city, and network with professionals in London (I suggest downloading the Shapr app). I definitely recommend a full year abroad, as the first term only gave me time to meet a lot of people and settle down, while the second term was the time to make close friends, get used to the style of teaching, and find your favorite spot in the city. |
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) |
London is a very expensive place to live. I worked 20 hours a week to afford the things that I needed (as well as luxuries like travel expenses). |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | At UCL, there is plenty of time and opportunity to work outside of classes, so I would recommend year-long study abroad students to find a part-time job. If you live in a catered hall, try to eat in the hall as much as possible. Don't buy coffee at cafes- they're expensive, 10 cups of coffee could easily get to about $40! |
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
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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? | My expectations for UCL classes were that it would be similar to ones in my home college, so getting adjusted to huge lectures was a long process. For year-long students, some (or in my case, most) of the courses will not have an end-of-term final exam, only end-of-year finals in May for both fall and spring term courses. Also, it isn't an exaggeration that London is expensive to live in. Getting a finance management tool (like a Monzo card) to have control over your money usage would have been good to know early. |
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 NetworkerAn 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. |
