Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Work hard, play hard Past Review

By (Political Science and Government., Wellesley College) - abroad from 10/14/2013 to 06/21/2014 with

Mansfield College, University of Oxford - Visiting Students Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned lifelong skills and more about where I want to take my life. Very worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

We had to write 1-2 (sometimes 3 the way scheduling worked out...) 8-10 page mini research papers every week. It was hard. Compared to other study abroad programs, Oxford (and Cambridge) are by far the hardest. However, the tutorial system was very rewarding and I got a lot out of the program.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They're pretty unorganized. However, they are good at trying to check in with the study abroad students and do special events for us. If I had an issue, they were very good at taking care of it.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in Ablethorpe (Dale). 15 minutes from campus, close to good restaurants. Had a single with a sink. Awkward view though - all rooms faced into the courtyard, and we could see into each other's rooms.

* Food:

Mansfield College had one of the best food ratings out of all the other colleges at Oxford, and they really did a great job - especially at formals. There were also a lot of good ethnic restaurants. Though, it must be said that English food on the whole sucks. Beer and cider are great, however.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Study abroad students mostly hung out with each other, though Oxford does attempt to integrate you through the "family" system - you're given a college mom, dad, and siblings. It's cool, and works out really well if you click with all or some of your family.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

We went to the local doctors office ("surgery"). It was very close to where I lived, and if you got there right when it opened, you were guaranteed to be seen. It was different from home, but not necessarily in a bad way...

* Safety:

Oxford is overall a very safe city. It was a little sketchy on the side of town where I lived (east-side); take caution when walking at night, especially alone. To be noted, England is very old and so are the buildings, so take caution signs seriously. A girl in our program fell off a roof because she ignored a caution sign.

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)

2.5

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? probably around $100 or so give or take on average
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I bought food and cooked in for myself cause it was so expensive.

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
  • 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?
  • Tutorial system
  • Formals
  • Pubs
* What could be improved?
  • Organization of program
  • Integration of Americans and locals
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It's a lot of work, but manage time efficiently so you can optimize your experience.

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!