Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Magical. No seriously, magical. Past Review

By (Villanova University) - abroad from 01/09/2012 to 06/16/2012 with

Arcadia: Oxford - University of Oxford

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Absolutely completely worthwhile, I learned so much about how to think and what it really means to be a student. I was given insight into different parts of my personality that I never though existed. I was given the opportunity to meet some of the most wonderful people I have ever met in my life. I was also faced with some people that I am glad to never meet again. All of this, joined together to create an abroad experience that truly changed my life and the lives of those that I knew and love. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Only my dinners were included in the program so I had to pay out of pocket for everything else.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around 50$ each week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Pounds go fast, learn to live without some luxuries and don't eat out every night, learn to cook somewhat!! Be flexible.

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

  • Other
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?
  • The town of Oxford is absolutely enchanting and slowly makes you fall in love with it.
  • The academic program of Oxford (one to one teaching style) is really intimidating yet beneficial to my overall academic progress. I learned to learn and think differently.
  • The people I had the opportunity to meet along the way was hands down the best part of this program.
* What could be improved?
  • Some organizational factors with Arcadia could be better managed, I was sent to Oxford about four days before my actual orientation and before any local students arrived so I was basically left to fend for myself. Without internet connection and an understanding of how the cell phone system works, I really didn't have any means of communication much less food for three days. Thankfully, a distant relative lived near enough to find me and give me the run down of the local grocery stores and how/where to buy mobile phones. This slight organizational mistake of knowing when my orientation was supposed to be could have made my experience a LOT less stressful, especially considering I payed Arcadia a large sum of money to assist me in my study abroad experience. I expected that assistance was to start since day one. Other than that, the program is fine.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Don't go with expectations of how you think the experience will go because this might prevent you from actually living in the experience you are getting.