Study Abroad: The most Exciting and Fulfilling Experience of my Life Past Review
By Ashley B (English Education, Illinois State University) for
University of Leicester: Leicester - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Studying abroad made me realize how wonderful and diverse the world truly is. English culture is very welcoming and the people are fantastic. I am planning to return soon, and hopefully own a home there one day. My additional travels through Europe and northern Africa allowed me to experience sights and culture I could hardly dream of while living in the Midwestern suburbs. Seeing stereotypes squashed and interacting with natives in each country allowed me to see how unique yet similar people are across the board. I know I will travel abroad again, and hope to expand my journey across the globe. My study abroad experience has been the best of my life thus far, and I cannot wait to travel again.
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 modules I took did a good job of giving me a learning experience while allowing for time to experience the culture. However, I did not like that my entire grade for the courses was based on a single, final paper. Especially since I had no previous graded work to base it on. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Overall the program administration was quite good. However, there seemed to be lack of communication between some of the lecturers and the study abroad office. It could be a bit more organized. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in a co-ed dorm, half international and half local students. It was perfect because it allowed me to meet British students as well as other internationals. Also, the set-up of the building was very social and welcoming, so I adjusted quickly and made great friends. |
| * Food: |
There were very limited food options, and only one vegetarian options, which deemed difficult for the vegetarian students. Also, lunches were excluded from the meal plan, so students had to cook for themselves or buy lunch. However I would still recommend being catered since it is a good social experience and removes the unnecessary burden of cooking all the time. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The first week the study abroad society and residence halls organized pub crawls for the students, which were fun and a great way to meet students. Also, the university had club in the student union that was a great place to meet other students and a safe place to hang out. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I always felt safe in my host city, even more safe than I did at my home university. In orientation, the university provides students with all the health information they need. It was a bit confusing, but they give you packets for further reference and numbers to contact for questions. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent about $100 a week on average. While the prices of groceries in England are generally the same as the States, the exchange rate makes it much more costly. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Students should budget and be aware of how much they are spending on food, clothes, and going out. These end up being some of the greatest costs. Also, my program had a 5-week Easter break that I was aware of, yet still spent more than I anticipated. Most American students backpack Europe during this period, however I underestimated how much I would spend, and a travel emergency ended up being quite expensive. |
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? | Exchange |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Immerse yourself in English culture and meet as many people as you can. Hopefully you will make life-long friends from around the world. Also, take advantage of the five week Easter break to travel. You will experience myriad cultures and see sights most people will only ever dream of. It could be expensive, but every penny is worth it. Leicester is the perfect program for an independent student seeking adventure and exposure to multiple and diverse cultures. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Italian Art and Architecture |
| Course Department: | HA2210 |
| Instructor: | Thomas Frangenberg |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | This course was very challenging. It was a second-year course, and since university in England is major only (they do not have general education courses), there were prerequisites I did not have. I could never contribute to discussion and felt lost most of the time. I took HA2210 because it transfers as an outer core fine arts. While the class had the potential to be interesting, I do not feel it is an appropriate course for international students who are not studying art. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | As of yet the grades are not returned, so I hope there are no issues. Regardless, I would suggest other students to look for another course to fill their general education requirements. |
