A 'first' in academics and the best time I've spent living in another country Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Amazing! Oxford is every bit as rigorous as it promises to be. I left Sarah Lawrence for the year looking to be challenged and I left the program completely satisfied in that respect. My tutors were not only brilliant but incredibly helpful as well in pointing me towards the resources I'd need. The university's own library system also merits praise: every book in print in the UK is owned by the Bodleian Library, and it doesn't get any better than that. But it does. Aside from the fact that we had at our fingertips and keyboards both electronic and nonelectronic resources, we also had the privilege of studying in most of Oxford's old libraries. That kind of atmosphere is unparalleled.

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Single rooms, furnished flats. Win-win everywhere. The flat complex also had good security measures, not that a town like Oxford would need anything beyond keys and swipe-card readers. While sometimes I'd wish for closer proximity to city centre, the real thing is that as far as living situations can go for a student / twenty-something, living in Summertown is not a bad deal at all.

I feel like each of our experiences with food is what we make it. Literally. If you want to cook, you can find the ingredients to do so happily - though at times different names for different vegetables or ingredients might throw you off. However, my biggest wish throughout the year was to have more spending money just to eat out. Favorite places to get food include the Covered Market (Alpha Bar is a must!) and at restaurants along George Street. The area near the train station is not bad either. Cowley Road is also good AND has the added benefit of being somewhat cheaper than places in city centre itself. Oxford's proximity to London also means that true foodies can take the Oxford Tube or train into the capital and venture to Borough Market or other places for some culinary adventures. Because Oxford is ultimately catered to its student inhabitants - there also exist a number of student discounts which you can find via studentbeans.com. Through this website, my friends and I got to dine generously on sushi for the bargain price of £10.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Having moved a couple of times in my life, I think that to feel integrated in another culture requires a certain amount of effort on our own parts. That is not to say that the SLP administrators or even Wadham itself were unwelcoming. Far from it. Every effort was made to introduce us to life at Oxford. But it is not the responsibility of other parties to make every newcomer completely integrated into the local culture. Just as another reviewer on this page mentioned, it is very easy to stay in one's own apartment and shut out the opportunities offered beyond the complex walls. Oxford's local culture is very much focused on students and so to get that the societies are indeed a beginning step towards so-called integration. For me, joining music ensembles had the same effect and I made most if not all of my Oxford friends through rehearsals, pub gigs, formal gigs, and group get-togethers. If you make an effort not to alienate locals by asserting a 'home is better than where I am now' attitude, and instead exhibit an open mind as one would hope comes with the desire to study abroad, then it should be no challenge to feel at least a little integrated simply through the motions of seeking to find a sense of belonging at Oxford.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

While I was fortunate enough to evade any medical emergencies myself this year, I witnessed the efficiency of the NHS and UK healthcare through my friends' experiences. From what I understand, it could be hard to get appointments with doctors and for minor medical issues. But in true emergencies, the NHS does pull through and that is better than having nothing at all. I went about my year knowing this and feeling assured by this fact.

I have walked many times from city centre back to Summertown at odd hours, alone, and not experienced any sense of being in danger. I don't think Oxford itself is particularly dangerous, just that one should exhibit basic precautions as you would in any other place to make yourself feel safe.

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

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• Academics
• Unique and independent lifestyle
• Performing arts opportunities

• Cost of attendance / cost in general!