Academically rigorous but challenging and novel experience January 04, 2024
By A student (Neurobiology, Neurosciences, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/01/2023 to 12/02/2024 with
Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford - Visiting Students Program
From my experience, I gained a more global perspective, especially around how healthcare and education are treated in different countries.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Sometimes the visiting student director was not sensitive to certain issues and would racist or sexist language. At first, the director did not take my issues seriously but over time got better after contacting higher administration. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Overall was good but I also requested accommodations for noise sensitivity. I was put right next to the college bar which did have some issues but was overall fine since the bar closes at 11:30. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I feel like some Oxford events made me feel more integrated with Oxford culture. However, my host country and my home country seemed very similar. I will say that I often felt much aggression from locals for my nationality. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare was excellent. I needed to go to the emergency room and called the Lodge who provided a free taxi for me to and back from the hospital. I also had the junior dean who checked up on me. The entire admission to the ER was free. |
| * Safety: |
My host city most of the time felt very safe. Some occasional situations were uncomfortable but overall, I felt much safer than in my home country. I would recommend for people to travel in groups during the night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
As much as I had trouble, I did grow and change a lot through this program. Because of its selectivity and promotion of academics, I felt very lucky to be apart of this program. I met a lot of great friends although most were American. |
Finances
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* 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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would not be able to take lab classes and it would be difficult to complete science courses |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
