Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Living a dark academia, historic fairytale August 21, 2023

By (Economics, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/09/2023 to 04/14/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Learned how to cook, travel, analyze Jane Austen, and research. It was very worth it

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* 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

I got to improve my writing and research skills, which is what I wanted to do

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)

2.5

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $75
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Go to Tesco for shopping needs. Take this as an opportunity to learn how to cook instead of always eating out

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Program was in English, but they offered conversational classes in French, which I took

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? N/A

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?
  • Historical lectures
  • Challenging academics
  • Libraries
* What could be improved?
  • Kitchen situation
  • More integration with Oxford students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Tips for time management

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:

The Crusades
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Challenging. Professor was very knowledgeable
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

European Politics
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I learned so much about the European Union
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Jane Austen
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Yes, it was challenging and I had to read so much but I improved my written and critical thinking skills so much. My essays got so much better
Credit Transfer Issues: No