On the Whole a Very Charming Time November 06, 2023
By Anita B (History, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/01/2022 to 12/09/2022 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program
While I am part of the majority of people who tend to roll their eyes when someone tells me their study abroad experience changed their life, I can now fully say that I understand the sentiment. You know nothing until you can compare your lived experiences with those of another country, it changes everything you know about the world. It was very worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The Middlebury Oxford - CMRS program was one of the greatest experiences of my life. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration was always available to answer questions and were thorough in their support. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Living within the inner city of Oxford was incredible, even if the rooms were small. |
| * Food: |
We were making our own food mostly, but the occasional Keble meal was great. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Integration depended much on how much you were willing to venture out of the loving confines of the CMRS team, which meant that there was only occasional intermingling. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
We had our very own doctor speak to us at the beginning of the program, and a clinic not two minutes from us. |
| * Safety: |
In a city the size of Oxford safety was occasionally an issue, but never became a real problem. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
In comparing this program to others' experiences abroad, I think the CMRS program takes the cake. It wins in all regards in my book, the general culture of the program, the sense of community and comraderie, and of course the city itself. |
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) |
Finances were a huge issue for me and by the end of the term I found myself unwilling to go out with friends because I was so tight on money. Oxford is probably not the most expensive of cities however, and I would probably be fine with a bit more cash. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Each week I probably spent $75 on food and other items. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I am probably the worst to give advice on money, I scrimped as best I could - I simply wish I had more of it. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I solemnly wish that I had eased up a touch, especially while working on my big research paper. Research happens slowly, and I was not giving myself the time for that. |
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 LinguistYou 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: |
Art and Censorship |
| Course Department: | Art History |
| Instructor: | Marie-Louise Lillywhite |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | For me course was a complete introduction into 16th century art, but also the field of art history itself, for which nobody could be better suited than Marie-Louise. She was incredibly charismatic and willing to put up with our often inane responses. The course was a challenge, but like the best of them, well worth it. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
