Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Unforgettable experience of growth and cultural immersion Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/24/2018 to 06/14/2019 with

London School of Economics (LSE): London - General Course, Year-Long Study Abroad Programme

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I have gained a sense of self-confidence in myself to take ownership of my education and to be self-sufficient financially. London has taught me to be comfortable with myself, which is a trait I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

-The courses are just as hard, if not harder, than Wellesley -You really have to study on your own and gain a sense of independence with your studies -Lack of resources and support from faculty

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

-GC Dean is very accommodating to meet the needs of the students

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

-Loved my room and was in an excellent location (Bankside) -Living in a single/lack of res life often felt isolating

* Food:

-Food was pretty good overall! -Lack of variety for vegetarian/vegans

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

-Lack of consistent social events for the GC program -Have to join societies and organizations at LSE to know anyone at the school -Plan your own events to have fun in London

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

-The NHS is incredible! Got fresher's flu within a month of moving to London, and was a really simple process -Got medications when I needed them, at a relatively inexpensive cost

* Safety:

-London is very safe overall -Don't walk around at night alone, obviously

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I absolutely adored London, but I hated LSE. The courses themselves are very academically rigorous with the lack of support from professors and useless class teachers; however, I would do this program again because I've gained a sense of self-confidence in myself to be self-sufficient with my studies, along with the ability to easily travel to other countries is something I will never forget.

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's very expensive, you need to be smart with how you're spending your money

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

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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 flexability to take any courses offered at LSE
  • Easy access to explore other countries
  • London
* What could be improved?
  • The lack of support from professors
  • More feedback from class teachers prior to exams
  • Transparency of grading system prior to entering
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The class grade is 50% of our overall grade, and the other half comes from our exam grade. It would have been nice to know this beforehand, as I stressed out immensely during exam season because I thought our entire grade was based off of our exam grade, and the class grade didn't matter.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!