Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Overall, Oxford has exceptionally good academics. The tutors are leaders in their fields, and they truly make the time to invest in their undergraduates, which is nearly unheard of in American university. However, in exchange for their time and conversation, they expect quite a bit from their students-- both in the quality/content of the writing and in their ability to engage in lively debate in the tutorials themselves.

On-site administration of your program

Oxford is an old institution, which sometimes seems as if it is still stuck in 1200, before computers and other forms of electronic communication. People are quite bad at responding to emails-- tutors and administrators alike. They don't mean to be rude, but often I was forced to send several emails before receiving a pleasant response. They do, however, when they respond, provide excellent resources, which helped me acclimate to my host country. And the 1 on 1 attention of the tutorial system is far superior to any classroom environment in America.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in an annex, a five minute walk from college. It was a single room, with its own bathroom-- a perk I had thus far not experienced. In my dorm there was one communal kitchen, serving 30 students. There were four fridges and two freezers to accommodate all the food. Additionally, there was a beautiful common room-- with balcony and shared wall with a castle from 1071! The annex was centrally located in the heart of Oxford, just a few minutes walk from all the main attractions and libraries. <br /><br /> Overall, housing was quite good. Oxford is a fairly safe city, and because I lived in the heart of the city, I felt even safer at night. The area is particularly beautiful as the annex is attached to the historical Oxford Castle, where many festivals and fairs occur on a regular basis. The annex provided bedding, but all other items-- towels, extra pillows, cookware-- needed to be purchased. There was some communal cutlery in the kitchen, but each student still needed to invest in his or her own.

England doesn't have the healthiest food, but it is surprisingly more vegetarian friendly than I expected. I purchased lots of good fruits and vegetables from the Covered Market or Farmer's Market, and largely cooked for myself. I also enjoyed salads from Alpha Bar, an amazing and cheap salad bar in the Covered Market. Basically, all the good eateries are in the Covered Market-- including Georgina's, which is a hippie-dippy cafe. The crazily decorated walls are worth the visit.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The Brits are a bit reserved at first. But once they throw back a pint, they are quite friendly and engaging. They know how to have fun, and they help you to come out of your American-centric shell. However, you must be willing to engage them-- as they never make the first move (especially the boys).

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I fortunately did not need to use NHS (free British health care), but they seemed to assist all my American friends pretty well. Though I am told that NHS can make you wait longer than a typical American practice. In terms of safety, Oxford is a city, and hence there are the stray homeless people to contend with or the drunken academics to avoid, but overall it is a safe and comfortable place to reside.

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

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• Dorm

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• Local Students
• Americans

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• Local Students