Best Semester of My College Experience Past Review
By A student (Elmhurst University) - abroad from 08/30/2016 to 12/09/2016 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program
It was definitely worthwhile. I have a lot of international experience, so for me it was more about the academics and the friends I made.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Academically, this program is challenging. You need to write at least two 2,000 word papers per week, which isn't bad. The challenge is the amount of reading, research, and thinking time required to produce quality work. It all depends on how good at time management you are. A definite positive is the fact that you have access to the whole Bodleian library system, so you have all the resources you need. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We lived in a dorm in the very center of town, so it was close to literally everything. We had a communal kitchen, a living room, a library, a lecture hall, and two smaller classrooms. Some tutors came to our buildings while others met with students in different colleges. |
| * Food: |
You could eat either at Keble hall or cook your own food. The farmers market was the best part of the week because the food was super cheap and healthy. TESCO is a lifesaver because it stays open late. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Due to the individual tutorial system at Oxford, there wasn't much socializing in classes. You had to make an effort to integrate though clubs and sports. Unfortunately, we did not have time for many different activities because of the work load (you could only join one or two clubs depending on the time commitments). |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Since we were in England, everyone had healthcare and the doctor was close by. |
| * Safety: |
During term there are a lot of students who party late into the night, but it's just loud, not unsafe. There are also a lot of homeless people but I never had any problems. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy fruit and vegetables at the farmers' market. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I suppose the one thing I wish I did better was time management, especially of my schoolwork. |
