Great Experience Except for Integration Past Review

By (Independent Scholar: Rhetoric, Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/05/2014 to 12/14/2013 with

Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies - Oxford

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot specific to my major, a lot of general research skills, and some new things about British culture.

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.

Academics were cool. I felt like I engaged with my major in a new way. The Bodleian was awesome.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

It would have been cool for the living arrangements to be more integrated with Keble. We were pretty isolated, although at least the building was close to the center of the city.

* Food:

Keble's meals were awesome, although I ended up making most of my meals in the building's kitchen.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

More integration with the University would have been awesome.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no problems. It seemed like it would be relatively easy to get help if I did.

* 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? $50-100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Meals at Keble are delicious but far away, the best solution I found was to work in Keble's library whenever possible so that I would already nearby. Otherwise, the Tesco in the middle of the city is pretty decent.

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

  • 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Academics
  • Extracurriculars
* What could be improved?
  • Integration with the University
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That it could be better integrated with the University.

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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Narrative

Course Department:
Instructor: Mr. Garrigan
Instruction Language:
Comments: This course was awesome and took my fiction writing to a new level. The structure of writing 2500 words every week was awesome.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Shakespeare I

Course Department:
Instructor: Professor Hanna
Instruction Language:
Comments: This was a challenging and engaging class. Professor Hanna impressed me more than anyone else I met in England.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Oratory

Course Department:
Instructor: Dr. Kerr
Instruction Language:
Comments: It was pretty challenging. Dr. Kerr was pretty knowledgeable and it was awesome to spend a course focusing on Oratory.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Integral

Course Department:
Instructor: Guest Lecturers, Dr. Crowe
Instruction Language:
Comments: The lectures were not very engaging. These were all taught by guest lecturers. My research paper, which Dr. Crowe advised, was a really engaging project though.
Credit Transfer Issues: