Oxford: The City of Dreaming Spires and Students Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My course, the Inklings in Oxford, was fairly intense due to the short time period of five weeks. However, we were given plenty of resources. Every student was given a Bodleian library card which was extremely helpful. It gave me a place to work and study, and I never needed to purchase a single book. We were also given access to the library at St. Peter's College. Although the course was challenging, it was very rewarding and has certainly improved my time management and writing skills.

On-site administration of your program

The administration of the program was great. They were incredibly organized and helpful. The program also had an amazing director that truly made everyone feel welcome.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I enjoyed the housing provided for this program. I was given a room on High Street, just across the street from Magdalen College. The room was spacious and "scouts" would come in to make our beds and take out the trash a few times a week. I only had a few issues with housing. The Wi-Fi worked pretty well but could be a little slow at times. I was not living directly on campus so I would need to cross the street every day, which wasn't far but could be inconvenient at times. There was only one washing machine and one dryer in the entire building. These problems were not major, so my overall experience with housing was very good.

The food in the cafeteria was good, however it was very hearty: lots of meat, bread, and potatoes. Sometimes there were not as many vegetables or fruits provided as I would have liked. The packed lunches given to us for each excursion were also good, but there was not a lot of variety from week to week. However, the food at the formal dinners each Monday night was amazing.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very integrated with the local culture. Due to the central location at Magdalen College, I got the chance to explore the city, visit all of the major sights, and feel what it is like to really be a student at Oxford.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I felt very safe throughout Oxford. Safety mostly comes down to how aware you are of your surroundings. For example, be careful while crossing the busy streets, making sure you are looking the right direction (since in England cars drive on the other side of the road). It's better to walk on major roads and stay in groups at night, basic safety practices for any city.

This program was incredible. With the amazing courses and professors, weekly formal dinners, and the vast multitude of excursions, it certainly was an experience unlike any other. I would happily do it all over again.

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

It was fairly easy to live on a smaller budget since we were given three meals a day all week except Sundays. The local places for food were reasonably priced. A lot of the locations in the city, such as museums, were free or a lower price for students.

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• Dorm

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• Americans

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• Americans

• The location: both the city and Magdalen College
• The class and the professors
• The excursions

• The length of the program (maybe just a bit longer)