Study Abroad, Honors Program & Other Student Experiences

View from City University Library (Yeah, I took pictures instead of studying.. I promise to start studying again.)

While I’m in London it’s really hard to convince yourself that you are here to study -not on vacation. The education system here makes it very easy for students like me to get back into the school game and out of winter break. Here, courses are usually based a few grades: one paper and one test. Back home, I am used to having many short assignments, many papers, and many quizzes or test. American education puts students in the zone of studying all the time and always having to do some sort of homework every night.

In London, that is not the case. I’ve had some weekly readings, but nothing actually due on the next class. I  really haven’t been doing any traditional “homework” until now. I am now half-way through the term and mid-term papers need to be done. The last few weeks, I’ve been working on a presentation for International Business, film analysis paper for Filming the City, and a paper for History of Modern Britain. It was really to get into the mood to start these papers. Since I have completed everything except my film paper, I think I’m back in the “school mode.”

But once that is all done, I think I’ll be going back into “vacation mode,” since I will have no assigned work to do anymore. I do like the American style of education more because I feel more in touch with my professors and I really feel like I dive into the subject if I have to complete little assignments for each class. But since I’m in London, I want all the free time I can get! It gives me a chance to explore and really immerse myself outside the school to enjoy everything.

By the end of today, I would like to complete a first draft of my film analysis. Then I have an interview to be an Orientation Leader. Then groceries. Once that is all done —AMSTERDAM! I’ll let you know all about it when I return.