Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Could have been great Past Review

By (Political Science and Government., Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/03/2013 to 04/13/2013 with

Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies - Oxford

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Going abroad was definitely worthwhile, but this program was not for me. It is only American students, and it is very hard to find your place within the larger university. However, I did learn from the experience. Though I studied in an English-speaking country, there are many cultural differences. I learned to adapt to my surroundings and be more easy-going about plans.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Everyone in administration is very nice, but they're very disorganized.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This is a fully American program.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

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

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? The UK is very expensive, so save before you go!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • I liked the idea of the program.
  • The courses were interesting, and
  • the resources were amazing.
* What could be improved?
  • There needs to be better planning.
  • I was without classes for 4 weeks,
  • only to have ALL my semester work in the last 4,
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known how American the program was. I knew it was a program for American students, and we would be living together, but there was literally no interaction with British students. I had to find student groups to join on my own, which could have been so much easier if the institution had helped. Studying abroad is difficult for everyone, and I feel like CMRS could have done so much more to help in the transition.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Gender History
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: I really enjoyed all the material in this course - the readings were very interesting and there was always thoughtful discussion, but there were no course goals or guidelines. I had no idea how I was doing in the tutorial throughout the semester, and I got little to no feedback on my weekly essays.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

German
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: This tutorial was horrible. Not only were there no course guidelines, but my tutor constantly seemed bored, and never accessed my German proficiency. Though we were supposed to focus on speaking, as I had recently taken an intensive writing course, we instead worked on simple grammar. I never knew what to expect each week, and I honestly think that my German got worse throughout the semester. Now, I don't feel prepared moving on the next level.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Art, Power, and Politics in the Renaissance World
Course Department: Art History
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: I loved this seminar! My professor was engaging and very clearly passionate about the subject. The reading was often tough to get through, but it was very useful in class discussions. The seminar paper was also a challenge, but absolutely manageable. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in art history or politics, regardless of whether or not the Renaissance is their area of study. I felt like I could say what I felt, and was encouraged to do so.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Integral Course
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: This class was a requirement for everyone in the program and it was horrible. It was in the last 4 weeks of the term, when everyone was supposed to be finished with their seminars and tutorials, but my class schedule was messed up, so I was doing the work for 2 tutorials in addition to the integral work. The lecturers did nothing to engage the students, so it did not feel like we were participants in the course. This was not a good way for me to learn.
Credit Transfer Issues: