It was OKAY. Past Review
By Alice L (Biological Chemistry, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/12/2014 to 06/21/2014 with
St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford - Visiting Students Program
I learned how to initiate and keep a conversation going with strangers.
Review Photos
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. |
It definitely wasn't easy, but I had a lot of fun challenging myself with materials from different areas of biochemistry. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
We weren't exactly told details about the orientation program until the day of orientation. It was quite confusing. The porters keep trying to kick me out of the college because I sound like a tourist, although I actually go there. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We lived in a hotel. |
| * Food: |
Formal dinners are a must. The regular dinners have good and bad days. Let's just say losing weight was not difficult. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
British culture, unlike American, is very odd. People aren't very friendly especially if you spoke English with an American accent. However, going to afternoon tea and punting were a lot of fun. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The nurse had specific hours during weekdays that conflict with lectures times. She can't write prescriptions or anything, either. Sometimes, you may have to wait in line for a while, but the nurse always left at 4pm exactly. So if there were a lot of people, and it was 4:30pm and you've been waiting all afternoon, you may have to go back in the monring. Basically, it's best to not get sick while there. |
| * Safety: |
The city is quite safe. But if you are walking alone at night, best to have a buddy with you as drunk people are wondering around the streets with no self control. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
During Easter vocation, we have to pay for food on our own. I spent more than 50 pounds a week. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | On average, 30-40 pounds a week. During Easter 60 pounds a week. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Purchase a railcard early. Buy shoes in the U.S. and bring them with you. Make your own tea/coffee in the morning instead of buying them from a cafe. |
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? | Bring more socks. Wet socks suck! |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
