University College London (UCL)

SOHO rocks! If you dig jazz, you have to get out to Ronnie Scott's. Not to be confused with a jazz joint, the Blue Note is an awesome club that spins a lot of great techno and drum and bass, as does Bar Rhumba. Stay clear of the tourist trap clubs in Leicester Square. The Ministry of Sound (largest club in the City) is definitely iffy, but if you like mainstream vocal house/generic techno, try it out. Just about all of the galleries are worth the visit. London's curator's are extremely wise in their choices of exhibitions. Thursday nights at any of the University Union's is where it's at. However, plan on going early because they do have maximum capacities and the lines start forming really early. Unions are also the cheapest places around to eat and a great place to meet friends for lunch. If you play sports, join one of the University teams. I played soccer on the Women's Football team and had an absolute blast travelling around. It's also a great way to meet friends. However, if you are a guy and do intend on going out for a team, especially for soccer, rugby or hockey (field hockey), keep in mind that the Brits are pretty intense, however they do have different level teams within each sport, provided that the sport is popular enough. In all, London is totally what you make of it. It was the best year of my life and I'd return to the City and UCL in a second...provided that it were free. Oh, by the way, it is soooooooo much cheaper to attend the University of London colleges through direct application. I think that I only payed about 13k, whereas I would have payed several thousands of dollars more if I had gone through an American program. My decision to apply directly definitely paid off, especially since living in London is so unbelievably expensive!!! that it is beyond words.

Well, I travelled throughout England, Ireland, France, Spain and Italy. The English students definitely get more vacation time than American students do, so take advantage of it. The University College London had three weeks off around Christmas/New Years and a month off between the end of March and the end of April. Furthermore, I felt that the courses of study (for everyone) were less intensive, so there is more time to even take short breaks. In other words, I often hung out, with even those of my friends who were in law school and med school, something that is pretty much unheard of in the United States.

Studying in London is the best way to get to know the city. Though is it expensive it is worth it: it is a dazzling world full of extremes: culture als low-culture, rich and poor, British and non-British, ... everything mixed together.

A good surprise was the rapidity to find a "local job". The university has a lot of opportunities in terms of cathering (waiter in pub or restaurant is one of the most popular job) and any other job. Most of them take you 1 day a week or 2-3 evenings or more, it really depends on the amount of money you need. The university also has good relationships with local companies who are always looking for people to employ for a short time.

TRAVEL. TRAVEL. If you stay at least 6 months as a student in London (this usually means that you have to study abroad for a year), you qualify for a resident-rate Interrail pass which is your ticket to Europe at a more than reasonable price! Plus, weekend trips are easy to do, to destinations both outside and within the UK! AND, the British school timetable is very conducive to travel options.