Past Review

By Allison W (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., SUNY - Binghamton) for

University of Oxford - Visiting Students

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I loved this program. My writing improved considerably, I learned new ways to read that changed the way I look at literature, and I had an amazing time discussing incredibly nerdy things with professors who have been there and still have an insatiable thirst for learning.

Personal Information

The term and year this program took place:	Fall 2009

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	I knew applying to this program that Oxford is an academically challenging university, and that's what I was looking for. The courses I took required a great deal of self-motivation, drive, and a general love of learning, as much was demanded of me. Coming out of it, I feel a great deal more responsible, and prepared to tackle the upcoming academic challenges I'm to face as an upperclassman domestically.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	When I had questions, most of them were answered well and promptly. I do know many of my fellow students had difficulty getting everything sorted out, though I personally found things to be alright.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I lived with four other girls in a flat near the university- 47 Walton Crescent in Jericho. We each had our own room, shared two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a dining room. We had each paid slightly more for the ability to live in nicer housing nearer the university. Because of this we had internet, a free phone, and our kitchen was fully stocked with utensils, plates, and the like. <br /><br /> We had some housing problems (shower leaks, power outages), but they were promptly taken care of. The neighborhood seemed safe, and within walking distance of supermarkets, event locations, and the university, though had I not opted for the more expensive housing, this wouldn't have been as true.
* Food:	Contrary to popular belief, Oxford has some excellent food. Anyone who attends this program- go to Pieminister, and get the student special- 5 pounds for pie, mash, gravy, and mushy peas. It's one of the things I miss the most being home!
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I'm sure there were plenty of events going on, but I had little time to enjoy them. The trips I did go on, particularly the London weekend, were fantastic. We saw a show, went sightseeing, and I met a few great friends I still talk to now.
* Safety:	I felt very safe in Oxford, though there are homeless people wandering the streets, and it's probably not the best idea to go walking alone when the bars/pubs close (around 11pm in most cases)
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

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?	This depends. I lived very conservatively, shopping sales at Aldi (an inexpensive supermarket), and going out very little. Fresh fruit and canned foods are generally the way to go if you're trying to save. I would buy canned soup and add canned vegetables, then save the leftovers for the week. I could have dinner for under a pound.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	If your house isn't furnished, you'll have to pay to do so. Buses to and from airports can get expensive. Make sure to have a talk with your housemates about buying things like toilet paper and cooking staples, so one person isn't footing the bill all the time. Also, if you're going to be travelling, BOOK EARLY, and get to the airport early as well.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	The Oxford program is for someone who loves what they're studying and wants to learn under some of the most respected and knowledgeable professors in their fields. The work is very time intensive. If you want to take trips on the weekends or go out at night, this isn't the program for you. I was able to get in a trip or two, but that's it. If you want a work-intensive course with required reading of several books a week and 8 page papers, you want this program. Personally, it was heaven. For some of my compatriots, it was miserable.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	20th Century British Literature
Course Department:
Instructor:	Scarlett Baron
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	20th Century British Literature was perhaps my favorite of the two courses I took at Oxford. Scarlett Baron was genuinely passionate about the subject she was teaching- two of the books she assigned she had written her dissertation on. Conversations moved beyond simply discussing the book to talks on the authors themselves, the times they wrote in, and the many layers of deeper meaning often left untouched in courses on literature. Aside from simply learning about the books I read, I learned more about how to read, and take into account the historical context and setting, which in turn opened up infinite possibilities in my own creative writing. This course changed the way I look at literature.
Credit Transfer Issues:	I can't receive my grades until I complete this evaluation, so I don't know yet.

Course Name/Rating:	Creative Writing
Course Department:
Instructor:	Kieron Winn
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Creative Writing was a lot of fun. I tend to write a mix of serious as well as more whimsical fiction, and felt as if I had the freedom to do so in this course. Kieron Winn critiqued my writing fairly; he pinpointed an issue I was continuously having difficulty expressing and helped me to overcome it. As he is a poet, he tended to emphasize those such forms of writing, but allowed me to write short stories as well, my preferred form. Overall a great class.
Credit Transfer Issues:	See above.