Looking Back August 05, 2023

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/03/2023 to 04/15/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury – CMRS Oxford Humanities Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned about the ways that I need to be supported as a student to maximize my potential.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The program was very academically rigorous and intense. To do well, I needed to spend 6 days in the library reading and writing for 7 hours per day. Readings were only accessible to us at the library, which made studying anywhere else a hassle. I learned a lot from my tutorials, but taking two tutorials along with a seminar at the same time was a bit too much. Oxford students only take two tutorials per term, and I think if we followed this model I would've been able to spend even more time on my tutorials as well as explore more of Oxford.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was satisfied with my living arrangements. My room was clean and secure, and I was paired with the roommate I requested.

* Food:

There was one kitchen for 35 students to share, which was really difficult.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

n/a

* Safety:

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

I did not fully understand the academic rigor of the program. When I decided to study abroad with this program, I wanted to improve my writing skills and spend time getting to know the area I was living in and the people who lived there. I felt that in my experience, if I wanted to do well academically, I had little to no free time and as a result, I barely got to explore Oxford.

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? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Budget! And try not to eat out too much.

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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Using tutorials as a means of instruction
* What could be improved?
  • Get rid of the seminar
  • Be more transparent about the academic rigor ahead of time
  • On-site administration should communicate with students like the adults that they are
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that the program would be harder academically for me than Middlebury is.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

European Politics

Course Department: Political Science
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

20th Century British History

Course Department: History
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Shakespeare's Tragedies and Comedies II

Course Department: English
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Europe and the World

Course Department: English and History
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: