Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Oxford Year Abroad...difficult but worth it! Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/28/2017 to 12/12/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to be a better writer, which is a very useful skill. I think being able to improve in that area was worth it.

Review Photos

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program Photo Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program Photo Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The coursework is definitely difficult, some more than Middlebury. Planning and discussing with tutors is extremely important in order to do well.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Program administrators were very accessible and friendly.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had a double for myself due to a smaller program size for the semester. Kitchen area was nice and there was also a mini-fridge assigned to each student.

* Food:

Food in Keble dining hall is amazing, however you have to pay for each meal. Cooking can sometimes be a pain, but there were also small restaurants around the area to quickly grab food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Not living this British students at Oxford make integration difficult. The CMRS dorm is also removed from Keble campus.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had a a bad cold/cough during my experience, but was easily able yo see a doctor to get that checked.

* Safety:

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

The work in the program is rigorous and sometimes you gave to give up doing enjoyable things to do it. Students only adjusted to the work in week 4 of tutorials and there are 8 weeks in total. Also, it was difficult to make friends outside of the program due to the location of the dorm.

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)

Things definitely add up, especially with traveling and going into London. the train isn't very cheap but the bus is.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $120 a week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan out trips and buy tickets early. Try to go to sites that are close to each other in one trip.

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

  • Other
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?
  • Readings
  • Traveling
* What could be improved?
  • Living Situation
  • Course Rigour
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish i k new the living situation better and the student culture at Oxford.

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:

British Children's Literature
Course Department: English Literature
Instructor: Emma Salgard-Cunha
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Challenging due to the niche genre, requires in depth thinking of books read as a child. However, the content is engaging and fun to read from an adult perspective. I went on a field trip to the Children's book museum in Oxford.
Credit Transfer Issues: