Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A New World Right on My Doorstep Past Review

By (Medical Sciences, North London Collegiate School) - abroad from 07/05/2015 to 07/30/2015 with

Oxbridge Academic Programs: Oxford - The Oxford Prep Experience

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My experience abroad wasn't exactly abroad, per say, as I actually am from England, and I currently live in London. Despite the 2 and a half hour drive, which seemed mediocre after hearing about a 24 hour hectic journey from Australia, entering Oxford felt like a whole different country to me. The historic buildings, sure I was used to, being English, but the level of community, and all the people who really had come from abroad, eager to learn about the culture, surprised me, and made me realise that maybe I wasn't going to bore myself since I was already English, and had nothing new to learn. When it came to Oxford, I had everything new to learn. People came from Europe, America, Africa, Australia and all of their global perspectives came together to change my view of a country that I had known in one way my entire life, it really changed me, and those friends will always be a part of my life, whether I stay in touch with them or not, I won't forget the people I met here, and I hope they don't forget me. Oxford was not the place I wanted to spend my summer, to be honest, I had been to a different program previously and I wanted to go back there, convinced that nothing could top the six-weeks at that amazing institution. But I was wrong, the freedom and maturity they failed to allow me there, I received here. And the illusion that there was a balance of lessons and fun over there, they shattered here, only to show me what it really looked like. Oxford Prep was my family for a month, even people I have never spoken to in my life. I could never hope to realistically be friends with all 450 people who attended the program, and I wasn't. But as you walk around Oriel College, or the surrounding areas, I could look around and smile at people making their way around this new community. I could tell that they would help me if I needed them, and I would do the same for them. My new friends made me laugh until I couldn't breathe, confuse me to the brink of tears, entertain me to the point that I was fighting to keep my eyes open but I didn't want to go to sleep. Oxford made me tired, made me happy, made me confused, made me loving, made me sad, made me weird, made me excited, but most of all, it made me unique.

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:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* 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

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? 40 - 50 pounds
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Budget your money for each week so you don't go out of control on your first few days, you know how much money you have for that one week and that you have to make it last for a week..

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

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
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 friendly people
  • The freedom and trips
  • The courses
* What could be improved?
  • The food
  • The assemblies
  • The dances
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how much of an impact it would make on my life so that I could have dove in head first instead of wasting my first few days, being shy..