Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Rigorous but Rewarding September 09, 2025

By (Political Science, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/08/2025 to 04/17/2025 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about myself and the environments that I enjoy living and working in -- I thought Oxford's architecture was beautiful, but I did find myself missing the green space at my home institution and where I grew up. I also learned that I like being in a classroom environment/academic setting that involves interacting with people -- while I appreciated the 1:1 nature of the tutorial system, it did feel isolating at times. My writing, reading, and time management all improved as a result of the program, and between these improvements and what I learned about myself, I did find my experience worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The on-site administration of the program was

* 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 was really between "yes" and "no" for this question, in large part because of academic burnout, the lack of opportunities to connect with local students, and the fact that I think I could've pushed myself further out of my comfort zone (gone somewhere where English wasn't the primary language, where there was more experiential learning involved/the education system was more of a change from my home institution, etc.). Ultimately, though, I think I would choose the program again -- I'm grateful for how the academic rigor pushed me to improve as a student, and for the community that the students in the program created in the dorm that we lived in.

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? Probably around $150/week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Meal planning/maximizing the amount that you cook rather than eating out is always a good way to save money.

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
  • Other
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 living/housing situation
* What could be improved?
  • Could be more opportunities to meet local students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had been a little more prepared for how rigorous the program was going to be -- my home institution is rigorous, but I'm still generally able to strike a healthy balance between school and life. At Oxford, I was incredibly burnt out by the end of the term because the volume of work made it near to impossible to strike a balance -- it felt like I spent all day, every day, on coursework.

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!