A costly and not so novel experience in “like nyc.” July 21, 2021
By A student (SUNY - Fashion Institute of Technology) - abroad from 09/09/2018 to 12/15/2018 with
University of the Arts London - Semester Study Abroad
Technical skill will always trump a pretty presentation. Seeing and hearing about students who were asked about the construction of their garment only to say “I didnt make it,” made me sad. I felt costed out from a good experience.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Their physical library was wonderful as well as the printing studio. All tools, sewing/knitting machines provided in the design studios were nice a new. Never had to fight for a mannequin. To me it felt like others around me felt like the program was intense academically. To me it felt like we were directed to spend too much time and energy on the wrong projects. (Projects that didnt enhance our technical skills) |
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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? |
It was very expensive. I had to rent an air bnb far from London. Travel ate up so much time. Wish they would have had a greater variety of housing accommodations. |
| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The school has a bar and puts on a good amount of social events. I attended what I could but with the London transportation system shutting down so early I found that if I wanted to stay late to take part I would then have to wait hours for the busses or spend tons of money on a car service. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
N/a |
| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
The fashion knit program was one of the smallest groups at CSM. I would have chosen a different focus that had more people. |
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) |
Financial aid was not provided for study abroad. I was forced with taking out a high interest private loan for both the cost of tuition and an estimate for living expenses in London. I wish FIT had provided better info on the cost of living aside from “its like nyc.” I couldnt afford to go out and experience London in some ways, most museums were free to students so that made up for most of it. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $200-250 a week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It is not worth taking out a private loan for. Most of my fellow FIT students with me were already internationally based. This is only an enjoyable experience for those who come from a wealthy family who can cover all of their needs. I regret creating this debt for myself. |
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? | 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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| 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? | Costs, culture, lack of actual time spent learning. |
