London-It Can Be Whatever You Make of It Past Review
By Katie B (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Barnard College) for
University College London (UCL): London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I loved study abroad. I made great friends, was able to travel constantly and forced myself to structure my own academic life in a university that doesn't structure it for you.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The class set-up at UCL was so that you could either come or not, without much impact on your grades or even your learning experience. I found the classes to not be well organized and the professors are much more into research than actual teaching which made many of them dull and not relatable. For someone who doesn't like defined structure in study, it is a great fit. If you want structure however, you will have to make your own. The school itself and the resources available are great. I would suggest London to anyone. |
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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? |
The dorms I stayed in were a mix of freshman and affiliate students. There was a large amount of Americans in the dorm, but that was largely because 70% of affiliates were American. The dorms were gross though. They were always a mess and were only cleaned twice a week for hundreds of students. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The best thing about London is how cheap and easy it is to travel, within the country and out. I was able to go to Barcelona, Madrid, Ibiza, Dublin, and Tuscany while I was there. Most people went to even more places. I traveled to several places in the country, to visit friends and it was so simple. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
London is extremely safe if you are smart. I felt perfectly comfortable walking alone through the city. |
| 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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Take into consideration the currency exchange. Your money will not go as far in London. It is a very expensive city. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
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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