I LOVED CMRS. Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/05/2014 to 12/14/2014 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Definitely worthwhile; showed me where I want to apply to grad school.

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:

Cooked for ourselves, so that was good and difficult in different ways but amazing.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Although we were encouraged to get out and meet students, it's weird when you don't live with the other university students. If it could be emphasized that students need to take their own social initiative, there shouldn't be a problem.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had an emergency where I needed to be taken to a heathcare center; not a hospital, but a kind of emergency care center all the same. One of the Junior Deans took me and it was all over pretty easily.

* 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? Depended on the week; going on trips was something you needed to budget for, as were simple sight seeing excursions.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Decide what you need: do you have to have a 4 star meal every night or can you survive on pasta? Decide what's most important to you.

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
  • International Students
* 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?
  • The staff; they really wanted to make us feel welcome and happy and all.
  • Location.
  • Study Material; med/ren is difficult to get at and so I lvoed studying this super niche-y thing I love in a place I loved.
* What could be improved?
  • Upfront about integration with Oxford students.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew I'd need to be more deliberate in making local friends, especially since the British semesters are so short. That said, I did find my own group eventually.

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!