Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Challenging, but also eye-opening and thought-provoking Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 10/03/2016 to 06/17/2016 with

St Anne's College, University of Oxford - Visiting Students Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
From my experience abroad, I gained a new/broader perspective on linguistics. I learned how to read with a critical eye. I also learned a lot about myself - what I like and what I don't like. My experience here has also influenced my consideration of my future career, so yes, I would say that it was worthwhile.

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.

There's a lot more independent study/work time and a lot less class time. Lectures do not always relate to the work you do for tutorials. The workload is comparable to Wellesley, but different in style. It mainly consists of reading and essay writing. Essays are typically between 1500-2500 words, at least for linguistics. I had between 1-2 essays per week.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administrative staff were very friendly. They also organized a couple of special lunches (e.g. for Thanksgiving) and a formal dinner for the Visiting Students.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Everyone has a single. The room felt like just the right size. It also includes a sink.

* Food:

The price is fairly cheap and the food is usually good. Certain things (like carvery) repeat weekly, but the options for the other days vary.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt integrated with the local culture in regards to education, food, environment, etc. However, I found it hard to make British friends.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any experience with healthcare, although it was accessible.

* Safety:

Oxford is safe overall. However, cars are not as careful around pedestrians as they are in America. I've also heard that biking can be dangerous, although I have no personal experience.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

The Oxford tutorial is a unique experience. Three out of my six tutorials were one-on-one, which was terrifying at first, but enjoyable later on. It was helpful to have conversations with and to get feedback from tutors who are experts in their field and know how to guide you through whatever you're learning. I would also choose St Anne's College, in particular, because of its friendly atmosphere.

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)

However, I didn't spend that much on things other than food and other necessary things. If you want to join clubs, do sports, go to formal dinners, etc., those all cost extra.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $70-80

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

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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 tutorials
  • The friendly and intellectual atmosphere of the college
  • The helpfulness of the staff
* What could be improved?
  • The lectures
  • The registration of the university card to access academic buildings (it would've helped to be notified of this or to have been pre-registered)
  • The organization of tutorials (for them to be organized a bit earlier instead of last minute)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew not to take an advanced option for third years in a different department, because it was beyond my level.

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!