The hardest and most rewarding five months of my life. Past Review

By (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Presbyterian College) - abroad from 01/03/2013 to 06/07/2013 with

University of Roehampton: London - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worth while. It was challenging at times, I often tell people that my first day there was the worst day of my life, but that just meant that it could only get better from there... and it did!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had my own room so it was very nice and all my flatmates were very helpful.

* Food:

never ate on campus, too expensive

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

loved being so close to Central London! Not only was Central just a bus away, the culture on campus was also something I enjoyed experiencing too.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had any health issues thank goodness.

* Safety:

I felt extremely safe walking around London, however my best friend abroad did get her wallet stolen out of her purse at a restaurant so it was just about being cautious of your belongings at all times.

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 an insanely expensive city. I cut down on food and eating out, but just to get to see some of the most famous sites in London ran upwards of 20 pounds so that was were a lot of my money went to.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? probably close to 100 dollars, there were weeks where I spent more when we were traveling
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Just be sure to eat before you leave your room, or stop at the grocery stores in Central because they will be a lot cheaper than even the fast food restaurants.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • the people
  • being so close to Central
  • accommodation
* What could be improved?
  • the system they used for grading papers
  • food on campus
  • price of gym
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that these five months would be so great, because I spent much of the fall semester worrying about if I was making a mistake. Now I have great friends and experiences that I will never forget and I wouldn't have spent so much time worrying and more time getting excited for the semester.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'