Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Libraries and Learning Opportunities Galore Past Review

By (University of San Francisco) - abroad from 01/05/2017 to 04/15/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I fostered a new kind of focus and newfound in-depth academic exploration/excitement

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Most incredible one-on-one academic experience I have had to date

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Resources and directors always made themselves available

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Kitchen duty created the most tension in the living space, never truly resolved by deans of the dorm

* Food:

Had sufficient supplies in the kitchen to make food

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Involved in rowing team and dancing societies, however difficult to make British friends due to short term status

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Did not need health care but presentation on health care was informative

* Safety:

Regular smokers/teenagers hanging out near dorm building

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

At the beginning of the semester, our directors informed us the program was meant to bend us but never to break us. It absolutely stretched me and made me push myself as a thinker but never broke me.

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? $40 (including going out, drinks)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? N/A

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?
  • Professors
  • Inspiring nature of Oxford itself
  • Library resources/beautiful study space
* What could be improved?
  • More of a relationship with hosting Oxford college, Keble
  • More dean involvement in dorm
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I would have more consistently visited libraries/ churches in Oxford. There are so many beautiful spaces in Oxford alone that I didn't know how to access or didn't have the initiative to seek out until the very end.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!