Amazing and Consistent

London 2012 with GE was my second internship experience in GE. I would recommend the program to anyone who wants to develop their resume and professional contacts.

Housing:
A good chunk of the GE's fee goes to housing; the London program featured NEW central London apartments in an extremely safe neighbourhood. You get what you pay for; central London is expensive and living closer to the job saves you quite a bit with London's infamous transportation costs. The building that was selected had high security (Which the last program had as well) and impeccable facilities.

If you like a good party and the hustle of the city don't think twice about living in central London. Getting back home after a night out is a breeze when you live in the centre of the city.

Support:
The staff at GE is very good at the jobs that they do. Their records on your program and progress are always updated so that almost all staff members can get quickly acquainted with case and answer questions. If you have an issue and need a response, the office is incredible at getting back to you.

I also had a quick turnaround time with my placement and visa process. This is part of the process with getting a UK work visa (it does suck). I also wanted something very specific (Environmental policy research) so I waited longer than some in the program. GE promises to get you position and they don't pick cruddy placements so have faith in the wait. Always keep in mind that GE works with real employers to hire you; getting hired depends on the market and your qualifications.

Facilities:
The best thing about the London program is Melissa (On site GE rep). Melissa is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to resumes, cover letters, and interviews. As a graduate looking for employment I found Melissa's advice and willingness to help to be one of the BEST points of the program.

Fun:
The summer group was amazing. Since everyone lived together it was so easy to make plans and connect with people in a very alienating city. The GE events are well planned and are an easy way to see other parts of London or England. The fun you have is dependent on you; there was rarely a dull moment so it was up to us to seize the day.

Safety:
The building had such a high level of security it is almost an annoyance. High security buildings seem to be the norm in GE programs and it is well worth the cost. It was reassuring to see resident advisers in the dorms because the group was so large and it is always nice to be able to pick up the phone and talk with Melissa if anything with work or life went awry.