Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Maturation Abroad Past Review

By (Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Brandeis University) - abroad from 10/04/2015 to 06/17/2016 with

St Peter's College, University of Oxford - Visiting Students Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I've had a lot of time to self-reflect and mature as a result. I've had to face my inner demons head-on as well and really struggled with feelings of inadequacy for a while. Nevertheless, the experience was really important to my self-growth and I think I've learned a lot as a result. I've had a change to work on my weaknesses, and despite my certain dissatisfactions with the way my subject was run overall, I do feel that I've learned a lot as well.

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

It's a very different academic system which automatically made it more difficult than at home. Depending on which subject you were studying, the integration and set-up could be drastically different -- there was freedom to pursue what you wanted to study to a degree, but there wasn't enough of a coordinated movement between college and departments to make the integration process into attending easy.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

There doesn't appear to be much a of a continuity between the tutors in charge of taking care of the visiting students in each subject from year to year. In other words, the administrator I had this year hadn't held this position in a handful of years and wasn't sure where to direct the students in the beginning of the year (the most difficult transition period). It's understandable that the professors expect students to know what they want, but it's difficult to know what to even pursue when there isn't enough information provided going into the program.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Food in college is fairly cheap and well-balanced; other options in Oxford are nice as well.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This definitely depends from college to college. Integration was rather difficult at Peter's because you started the year with the 1st years (like orientation) -- but you rarely saw them ever again. Not only do you live out of college, you live with 3rd years but then take classes with 2nd years. Many of which already have established friend groups. And lectures are not the best of times to integrate with others.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

NHS (despite long-ish waiting times) is amazing.

* Safety:

Walking around alone at night can be a bit frightening, though center of Oxford is generally quite safe.

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

I think I would come to Oxford again, but I don't think I would have chosen the subject.

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)

With traveling, food costs, and just general misc spending from social events and such, costs can rack up pretty quickly.

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

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Libraries
  • Talks
  • People
* What could be improved?
  • Administration
  • Integration
  • Preparation
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How the program would be run, how to prepare myself for it.

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!