Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Life-changing Past Review

By (ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS., Barnard College) - abroad from 10/07/2013 to 06/20/2014 with

Mansfield College, University of Oxford - Visiting Students Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained confidence in my academic abilities from studying at Oxford. I also made some amazing friends, one of whom is another student at Barnard whom I had not known previously.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The program was definitely as rigorous as (or even more rigorous than) my first two years of college, which I expected from Oxford and was very much looking forward to.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration was fairly lax about visiting students, but I never felt ignored by my college. The visiting students at Mansfield College, Oxford made up almost 25% of the undergraduate population, so we were a significant group there.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was very satisfied with my room and that I was housed with both visiting students and regular students, but the accommodation in which I was living (as well as the other accommodation for visiting students) was about 15-20 minutes from my college.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was directly enrolled at Mansfield College, so I ate all my meals at the college with British students, but my social life mainly revolved around other American visiting students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I was not able to finish my year abroad at Oxford because I had a serious accident at the end of the second term; I was hospitalized in Oxford at the John Radcliffe Hospital for six weeks. Because I was going to be a year-long student there, I had signed up for the British healthcare system, so Oxford covered all my medical expenses while I was there.

* Safety:

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? about $200/125 pounds

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

  • Americans
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?
  • classes
  • the friends I made
  • the breaks/ability to travel
* What could be improved?
  • housing could be closer to college
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I feel like I have acquired a much better perspective on universities in general. While students at Oxford are extremely intelligent, they are not nearly as intimidating as I was imagining.

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!