Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Unforgettable Academic Experience Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/03/2019 to 04/13/2019 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained an understanding of the differences in British and American universities, got a taste for British culture, really developed my research, writing, and discussion skills, and had a lot of fun.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The building is very old and we experienced many issues with heating, water, power, and had multiple fire alarms go off. However, the building is very well located in the center of the city and my room and bathroom were very nice.

* Food:

You cook for yourself. The Keble dining hall's food is subpar.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We are very removed from the local culture. I had to join clubs to meet locals and students.

* 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? Yes

The people who run this program are amazing, the academic experience is challenging and rewarding, and the city is enchanting.

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)

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
  • 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 professors/academic administrators
  • The academic rigor and expectation
  • The opportunities offered by the city/university
* What could be improved?
  • The dorm building could use some maintenance
  • There could be a longer break (there's one 4 day weekend all semester)
  • Interaction with real Oxford/British students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I know that the work load is not as stressful as it sounds and really very managable!

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:

Medieval Travel Writing
Course Department: English Literature
Instructor: Alexandra Paddock
Instruction Language:
Comments: This course was the perfect amount of challenge. The tutor had a great sense of my abilities and pushed me in appropriate areas, mostly focusing on my writing skills and encouraging me to experiment with my style, organization, and argumentation. She gave me a lot of freedom in choosing my readings and paper topics, and though her essay prompts were often confusing, they were intended to be open-ended and challenge my creative and analytical abilities.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Art of the Garden
Course Department: History of Art
Instructor: Dominic Ingram
Instruction Language:
Comments: This course was a wonderful introduction to the art and history behind European gardens from the Middle Ages through the 19th century--a fascinating subject I highly recommend. It did rely on a solid understanding of European and especially early modern English history, which I did not have, but the tutor was very understanding and spent most of our tutorials explaining the contexts. I would have appreciated a bit more feedback on my actual writing, but also enjoyed discussing my arguments and the content of my papers.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Vikings, Saxons, and Heroic Culture
Course Department: Literature
Instructor: Antje Frotscher
Instruction Language:
Comments: I enjoyed the readings for this course, but found the expectations during our discussion sections to be too low to encourage effective participation. The final essay (the only graded element besides participation) was incredibly difficult--we had to write a 4,000 word paper in three days. Although this paper was intended to be an analysis of our readings during the course, I had to spend the entire first day doing additional research, leaving me little time to actually write a good paper. Additionally, the feedback I received on this paper informed me that I'd misunderstood some concepts, but didn't explain which ones or what I'd misunderstood so I could correct my mistakes.
Credit Transfer Issues: