Books Books Books Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/27/2018 to 12/08/2018 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to survive a lonely, difficult but rewarding period. Looking back, I got a great deal from the level of hard work I put in, but for my mental state it was not worthwhile.

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.

The academics were incredible. The tutorial system was a unique academic experience, and the library resources were unlike anything I'll ever have access to again. It was an extremely rigorous and study-intensive period in my life, though. I did not do much except study.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration was helpful in the emotional, mental, and academic adjustment process, which was great, although some rules felt arbitrary or were not explained well enough that the students felt obliged to obey them.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I did not get along with my roommate, and it was suffocating to live with the same people in our classes and with whom we eat most meals.

* Food:

It was a learning experience to allocate time to buying and preparing food for every meal while on a full academic schedule, but it was a good way to bond with everyone.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Not well.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any.

* Safety:

The location of the CMRS building at times felt unsafe compared to Middlebury, but I rarely felt in danger. Don't walk alone at night if possible.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I would have gone to Paris to study literature and art history and the French language in a city that welcomes immersion.

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)

3.5

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about $150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? buy all your food at Tesco's!

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?
  • The academics
  • Field trips
* What could be improved?
  • The RA program
  • The JCR committee structure/social opportunities
  • Living arrangements
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How little social interaction I would have; that I would at one point go four days without speaking to anyone.

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:

Milton Tutorial

Course Department: ENAM
Instructor: Edwina Christie
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Edwina is wonderful and so knowledgeable and accommodating. I was assigned a weekly reading and paper.
Credit Transfer Issues: Haven't yet.
Course Name/Rating:

20th Century British Fiction Tutorial

Course Department: ENAM
Instructor: Benjamin Westwood
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I adored this course, and Ben was a wonderful instructor. He let me tailor the course to my interests, and was amazingly knowledgeable about the material despite not being a specialist in this field.
Credit Transfer Issues: No