Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Disney World for academics. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/04/2017 to 04/14/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained the knowledge from the professors and tutors, the experience of living abroad for several months, and the feeling of a writing intensive course load.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Quite rigorious and intense, but with the proper resources at the Bodleian it turned out to be an experience well worth.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Great location in the center of the city.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Pretty much stayed in dorm and library, not too much/no interaction with other Oxford students.

* 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? Yes

Fit right into what I want to do when I graduate from college: continue in academia and further my education.

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 pounds
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Do not buy more than you budget, especially on drinks.

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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Writing
  • Research
  • Opportunities
* What could be improved?
  • Food
  • Interaction with locals
  • Intensity
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Just how intense the program would be.

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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Early Medieval and Carolingian Art
Course Department: History of Art and Architecture
Instructor: Lynda Dennison
Instruction Language: English
Comments: One on one tutorial with tutor. 2500 word paper due each week. Loved this so much, Lynda was amazing. In addition this class helped me focus my future to graduate school in Medieval art.
Credit Transfer Issues: None yet.
Course Name/Rating:

Roman Archaeology
Course Department: History of Art and Architecture
Instructor: Edward Peveler
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Met one on one once a week. 2000 word essay due each week with one presentation in lieu of an essay. Never took an archaeology class, not quite for me. I was writing the essays as art history style instead of archaeology style, which was not correct.
Credit Transfer Issues: Not sure yet. Although in the art history department, archaeology classes are often in anthropology dept.
Course Name/Rating:

Christianity and Warfare
Course Department: Religion
Instructor: Bernard Gowers
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Met once a week, seminar style. 4000 word paper due at end with one presentation during seminar. Class was well informative and a useful first religion class.
Credit Transfer Issues: Hopefully this will count as a Reli credit.
Course Name/Rating:

Independent Research on Ethiopian Art
Course Department: History of Art and Architecture
Instructor: Lynda Dennison
Instruction Language: English
Comments: One 6000 word research paper due at the end of the term. Absolutely loved the topic I chose, working with Lynda as we both discovered this art, and the end result.
Credit Transfer Issues: Hopefully I can get this to count for an AAL requirement as it concerned African art.