Living, loving, and learning in a magical city Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was looking for a challenging abroad program and I found it in Oxford. While some students felt the course load was too heavy, I felt that it was a welcome change of pace from courses at Middlebury and really forced me to refine my critical reading and writing skills and improve my time management.

On-site administration of your program

The on-site staff at St. Michael's Hall was helpful, informative, and always available for questions - even on weekends and at night they had quick response times. Perhaps more importantly, the administrators were sympathetic, supportive, and invested in our well being. They made themselves available for anything, from an essay question to needing a good cry, and made it possible for everyone to be successful over the course of the semester.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

St. Michael's Hall is a fantastic location to explore the city of Oxford. Easy access to grocery stores, shopping centres, libraries, and more. The building itself could use some updates on accessibility because it is relatively old.

British food is limited in its variety and flavor, but Oxford has a lot of cuisine options to offer. It was exciting to have the opportunity to cook for myself, shop for myself, and be responsible for my own "meal plan". That said, food should be better incorporated into the budget because it is an additional cost that I felt was not well represented in pre-departure information.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt that in Oxford it was easy to fit in because there are so many students and many international students. I did not feel like it was difficult to fit in to the city and British/English culture with friends I made in town. I did feel like getting involved in student organizations was a bit more of a challenge for people because you really had to be driven to do it yourself, there was no one telling you to go to meetings or social activities.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The program administration was very helpful when it came to sick students, and helped students contact professors, get extensions when possible, and checked in on sick students to make sure they were getting better. The local healthcare system was easy to navigate but slow when it came to making appointments. I was told I had to wait a week and half for an appointment about my asthma and breathing issues, which in other circumstances I would have gotten immediate relief from my own physician.

Oxford is a very safe city compared to many of its size in Europe. This comes with its student population and distance from London. I never felt unsafe during my time abroad. That said, it is still a city and you need to make good decisions, look out for cars and bikes, and be aware at night - know your way home, have a buddy, etc.

I was only supposed to stay for the fall, but an opportunity presented itself for me to extend my stay and come back for the spring semester. In Oxford I found myself fully engaged in course work, loving new friends and peers, being active and exploring new places, new foods, and new libraries. I was intellectually stimulated and culturally engaged almost every single day. CMRS is certainly not for everyone, but it was just what I needed to facilitate a positive abroad experience and challenge me while I explored a new place.

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

It was difficult to fund all personal expenses without being able to work and have an income. I could buy groceries for a week for $40-55 and then other activities in Oxford, through the university or otherwise, also had costs. Trains and planes for travel were also calculated into my budget.

Select all that apply

• Dorm

Select all that apply

• Americans

Select all that apply

• Americans

• Freedom/independence
• Community in Oxford and in CMRS
• Academic challenge

• Financial aspects / funding for food and college meals from the program

The Academic or Linguist