Penn Abroad Ambassador Ashley Glat

Program:

• SA: King's College London

Ask me about...

My abroad experience was highly unique, and I would be extremely excited to pass along advice and insights to students considering studying abroad. Some topics that I would be very eager to discuss include exploring London's neighborhoods, finding and planning activities, navigating transportation in London, living on the campus of King’s College London, and selecting and taking business and non-business courses. Regarding visiting different neighborhoods and activity planning, it was really important to me to explore as many London areas as possible and to discover fun activities in each new place. I also spent a lot of time learning about London’s complex transportation system, including the Tube, buses, and over ground trains. I believe this advice would be incredibly valuable for other students. Finally, I would be enthusiastic to share the details of my experience living on-campus and engaging in interdisciplinary studies at King’s College London. I lived in the Southwark area, below the Thames, in the KCL dorm called Moonraker, and I studied in King’s Business School and other academic areas. I would hope to help potential study abroad students by sharing my learnings to ease their transition to the London and abroad lifestyle. 

My Experience Abroad:

My experience studying abroad at King’s College London (KCL) was incredibly educational and rewarding. I had the amazing opportunity to engage with fascinating and novel curriculum; the courses challenged and expanded my understanding of international business and economics, as well as enabled me to adopt a global academic perspective. The experience perfectly complemented and enhanced my studies at Penn. I also greatly enjoyed interacting with students from around the world at King’s College London. Collaborating with my KCL peers taught me innovative approaches to coursework and encouraged me to explore campus events. In addition to embracing a new academic environment, I was able to fully immerse myself in London’s rich community and culture. It was incredibly meaningful to visit historic sites, museums, cuisines, etc. Overall, I greatly benefited from the incomparable learning opportunities—both academically and culturally—that London and the abroad experience offered. 

Other Highlights:

Studying abroad was filled with many unforgettable highlights. One of my favorite activities was visiting London’s many markets. London has an abundance of fantastic food, clothing, and art markets, including Borough Market, Spitalfields Market, Portobello Road Market, and more. I would highly recommend to any visitor or abroad student to see these markets and all of the amazing vendors. Another incredible experience was snowmobiling on a glacier. I had the opportunity to visit Iceland, and I learned to drive a snowmobile on Langjokull glacier. The ride was challenging, yet filled with beautiful views. Finally, there are so many magnificent world wonders and landmarks in and around London, such as Big Ben and Stonehenge, that were truly phenomenal to experience in person.