My Experience at City, University of London

During fall quarter of my junior year, I got the opportunity to study abroad at City St. George University of London. I spent three months living in the heart of London, experiencing everything the city had to offer and stepping outside my comfort zone every day. In the days leading up to my departure from LAX, I felt incredibly nervous. I wasn’t sure if I had packed right, who I would be living with, or what the city would actually be like. Despite those fears, I pushed through and stayed determined to make the most of every moment in this vibrant city.

One thing I was especially grateful for was that City was a partner university with DU. Knowing that all of my classes would transfer seamlessly toward my degrees gave me peace of mind and eliminated any stress about credit approval or negotiations. That sense of security allowed me to fully immerse myself in my learning experience.

What I really appreciated about studying in London was that I wasn’t attending a separate study abroad school tailored specifically for American students. Instead, I took classes alongside British students who were pursuing their degrees, which made the experience feel more authentic and integrated. I participated in “freshers week,” (their version of orientation) and found myself in unique situations like being the only American student in a 20th-century U.S. history class. Outside the classroom, I met people from around the world and gained valuable insight from their diverse perspectives.

Overall, my day-to-day life in London was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. Some days, I’d take the Tube to explore famous, massive museums for free, then stroll through a park, grab lunch at a popular spot, and finish the evening with a show on the West End. I truly got to pack all my favorite activities into a single day.

As a whole, study abroad helped to broaden my perspective of the world and helped me grow into a more confident and capable person through a vast variety of unique experiences. I will always be grateful to the University of Denver for facilitating an adventure I will talk about for the rest of my life.