Happiest Year of my Life August 31, 2023
By Cecilie J (Mathematics, Statistics, Wellesley College) - abroad from 10/02/2023 to 06/17/2023 with
Oxford Study Abroad Programme (OSAP): Oxford - Study Abroad at Oxford University
Oxford completely transformed my outlook on life. The academics at Oxford are great, but it's the people and the culture that is irreplaceable. I have never clicked with my home institution and its student body. The friend group I developed at Oxford was the first one that I felt I truly belonged in. I feel that my Oxford friends have imparted values that I hold today--to think deeply about the world, to constantly reflect, and to maintain dry humor throughout it all. I feel that I have matured 5 years over the last twelve months.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Since visiting students do not take exams, our grade is based on homework. For mathematics, that basically meant that if you put in valid effort into your problem sheets and participated in tutorials, you would end up with a good grade. I did not have to study, so I found it to be an easier time than at my home institution, purely by the nature of the visiting student program. In terms of resources, the math department lectures at Oxford are less personal than in the States, so I found myself watching Youtube videos and self-teaching a bit during the year. That being said, the tutors are incredibly helpful and I overall learned more at Oxford (and in a less stressful manner) than I would have at home |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Teddy Hall houses visiting students in Cowley, which is about a 10 minute walk from campus and a little bit removed from city center. I would have liked to be closer, but I was able to do everything I needed. |
| * Food: |
Teddy Hall is amazing |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
As a whole, you have the resources to integrate into Oxford student body, you just have to be proactive about it. At Teddy Hall, since visiting students are housed together off-campus, we do not integrate as well with the matriculated freshers. I wish we had been living with all the other students. That being said, I made a strong friend group at another oxford college and overall was able to feel like an "Oxford student" and not a "visiting student" |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was able to get prescriptions just fine |
| * Safety: |
Oxford is quite safe, just be mindful late at night especially in Cowley. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would choose Oxford again in a heartbeat, but maybe go to a college with less visiting students. Maybe Oriel |
Finances
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* 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) |
Oxford is decently affordable (better than London or NYC) and I had the ability to cook in the building. I will say that to get the "Oxford Experience" I splurged on formal dinners, balls, and went to pub quiz nights. These all made my year more expensive, but I would highly encourage the splurge. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Tesco Meal Deal |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I knew that Teddy Hall housed Visiting Students seperately from everyone else |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
