Work Hard, Play Harder Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was academically challenged by tutors who were experts in their field, and the amount of reading and writing I did improved my critical thinking and writing skills and ability to synthesize research.

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Visiting students were housed in twin rooms. We had our own bathroom and there was a kitchen on our floor. Our rooms were cleaned once a week. While a single room would've been nice, sharing a room allowed me to get to know another visiting student better.

I really enjoyed British food, but the dining hall food doesn't have a lot of variety; it's a lot of peas, potatoes, shepherd's pies, beef stew, etc. The food is subsidized though, so much cheaper to eat in hall than outside. The served three-course meals were definitely a highlight.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The social life is very robust; we had several social events including hanging out at the bar or Entzes (parties on campus) or college dinners. I hung out mostly with international students but got to know a few local students; there are many opportunities to get integrated with the local culture.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The college did a good job of communicating information about the college nurse, hosting discussions on mental health awareness, and providing contact information for students available to discuss mental health issues. No vaccines specifically needed for this program.

Oxford is very safe; I didn't encounter any safety issues or ever feel threatened. People don't recommend walking out alone at night, but I did it a few times without any issues.

The academic experience was rigorous but very different from Wellesley, Oxford has so much to offer with its history and traditions. The students I met were such friendly and interesting people to talk to; the conversations I had were some of the most interesting conversations I've ever had.

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

Assuming you eat all meals in hall, you would spend about 10 pounds (~$13.5) a day on food. Other expenses might include a bike, dorm items, and clothing. I spent the bulk of my budget on food. We didn't need to buy books.

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• Dorm

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

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• Other

• The tutorial system: one-on-one discussions
• We were fully immersed into the college: I was able to join the tennis team and caving club and attend Oxford Union debates and university lectures
• The social life: the people I met, the conversations we had, and the emphasis on balancing work with play

• Including a tour of Oxford's history during orientation week would be helpful
• The phone service/Wifi on campus