CMRS: An Experience to Remember Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload during the Integral course depends on you. There is a simple essay required at the end of term and other than that you need to keep up with the reading to whatever extent you feel is necessary to be prepared for the exam at the end of the month. The workload really picks up once the tutorials and seminar start. You'll be expected to write two 1500-2000 word papers each week for the tutorials and then do reading and research for your seminar. At the end of the seminar a big research paper is due on the topic of your choice. Getting those two essays done each week is difficult, not so much because of the length and research required but more because of the monotony of the work. You have two essays due each week, and as soon as you finish one you need to start the other. There are no light weeks and heavy weeks - it's the same each week - and that can take its toll. You won't receive any grades, even on your weekly tutorial papers. The professors care more about giving constructive criticism rather than a letter grade. I like that approach to my work, but at times it can be hard to tell how well you're actually doing. The Integral is all about lectures (2 each day), the tutorials are one on one with the professor and the seminar is discussion based with 4-9 students. The seminar was most similar to classes I've taken at college. The tutorial was very different as all the focus is on you. You guide the class, get all your questions answered, and always have to be on top of your game. It was one of the best things about Oxford. The main difference in education systems that I found was that the American system focuses on broad understanding while the British system is much more specific. I took a history course covering Henry III - Henry VII and expected to leave with an understanding of the overarching themes of the time period. Instead I wrote essays on very specific social, political, economic etc. events that took place in the period. That's something to keep in mind if you're thinking about taking courses that will focus on broad topics.

On-site administration of your program

The admin were extremely helpful and available. They're a very nice bunch of people and saw to our needs very well. We received a lot of reminder emails about traditional Oxford events to attend and the admin made it a point to get everyone to some non-CMRS orientation events (like the Activities Fair) so that we got to know the students a bit better and had the opportunity to join in activities etc. At times though the admin could be inefficient in providing necessary information and supplies. Book exchange at the CMRS library got backed up very quickly during the Integral course, and we didn't receive our reading list for that class until we were two weeks in (halfway through the course), so everyone was very behind. The grades also took a long time to get sent out. Term ended in December, yet the grades were only sent out in March.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The CMRS building, called Saint Michael's Hall, is right in the center of town. The grocery store, pubs, and shops are literally a five minute walk away. Oxford itself is a pretty safe city and while the area around the dorm can be a bit sketchy at night, I never experienced any safety issues. The room sizes vary but are overall quite comfortable. CMRS provides all the bedding material, but you need to bring your own towel. There were thirty students in the program when I attended, and at times the building could feel a bit small and cramped. All of my classes were held in the dorm building itself, so getting to class was never an issue. Keble College, which CMRS is affiliated with, is about a 15 minute walk away however, and that can make getting there for meals on time difficult. Most of us only went there for dinner. The dorm has a great kitchen on the top floor that is open to everyone, so cooking meals generally isn't a problem although the kitchen can get crowded.

The food at Keble is really quite good. A vegetarian and non-vegetarian option was provided at meal, and during the meal sign-up there is a section where you can mention foods you cannot eat. If you don't make it to Keble there is a Tesco's about five minutes away from the CMRS dorm where you can buy food. Since the dorm is in the center of town there are a ton of restaurants in the area where you can eat, and at night kebab vans open up so you can get snack stuff very easily.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The field trips during the Integral course were excellent not only because we got to see living history but also because the group bonded during the journeys. We all made it a point to celebrate each others' birthdays and the whole group got together to celebrate Thanksgiving. For many students it was their first time not being home for Thanksgiving, so the effort was important. We also had a farewell party at the end of the semester where gifts were given out and simple food and drinks were provided. That gave everyone a chance to say goodbye and appreciate all that had happened during the past few months.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Oxford itself is a pretty safe city. There were no times where I felt I was in danger. It is obviously a city so you need to be careful about what you do, but a little common sense goes a long way. I had to go see the doctor a few times when I was sick. Getting the appointments was easy and the doctors were all accessible and kind. CMRS has a special relationship with one of the clinics nearby so the whole process is very smooth. For more basic medicines etc. there is a Boots store about five minutes away from the dorm. There weren't any health issues as such. There was a point when a lot of people had a cold, but that is typical of any school situation where students are living together. I didn't need to get any special vaccinations or anything before coming either.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Dorm

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• Americans

• Professors
• Integral Field Trips
• Tutorials

• Cultural integration
• Integral Course
• Relationship with Keble College