Nothing was the same Past Review
By Samantha F (Philosophy., Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/30/2012 to 06/15/2013 with
University of Oxford - Visiting Students
I can't spell out what I gained and learned from this experience. I feel speechless when I think about what my year at Oxford did for me as a student and as a young woman. I know that I haven't gained a full understanding of what that year did for me. But I do know that I have never felt happier, more curious, more intellectually stimulated, or more alive (as cliche as that sounds...) than I did while at Oxford. I made incredible friends and incredible memories, learned to absolutely love my major, and saw people/places/things that I wouldn't have seen otherwise. Because I was at Oxford for 9 months, I formed a life there, and grew into the school, the people, and the city. I have changed so much because of that experience, and all the changes are for the better. If this experience was somehow taken away from me, it would be an enormous loss for my future and life in general.
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. |
Before coming to Oxford, I was worried that I would consequently get burnt out in Philosophy and wouldn't like my major anymore. The opposite actually happened -- with every tutorial, I learned to love my subject even more. The “classes" are just one-on-one meetings with renowned professors in which I read my prepared essay out loud and then discussed. This tutorial system meant several things for me. First, my work was very independent and I learned how to manage my time very well. Second, I was held completely accountable for my work, so that I couldn’t go into a tutorial unprepared or without having done the reading. Third, I learned how to articulate and defend my arguments. Fourth, I became very good at writing essays (12 essays each 8 week term). Finally, I studied subjects VERY in depth, as opposed to the more broad, general overviews we get in first- and second-year classes at Wellesley. Also, the grading system here is different from those in the states. They grade us on how we progress and improve throughout the term, not based on how well we do on one or two exams, so there is less pressure to produce perfected essays each week. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Visiting Students at Oxford are very independent and rarely treated any differently than normal, full-time students, so it's hard to give a rating for the on-site administration of the study abroad program. But, when I had questions or needed help, my college was always there to assist in any way they could. I'm sure that had I had a bigger issue, they would have helped me. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my living arrangements. I had my own, single room with a shower, toilet, and sink included. The building was nice and clean, 10 minutes from my college, and filled with both American students and normal, full-time Oxford students. |
| * Food: |
The food at my college was decent -- not amazing, not terrible. I wish that the meal plan at my college was more far-reaching. We pay a set fee every term that includes a certain number of dinners, but we need to add cash onto our University Card account to get breakfast and lunch from college. I think I would have saved money if these meals were included in the meal plan. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt very integrated. I loved the culture and the people at Oxford. One thing that is a unique abroad experience to Oxford is that we as Visiting Students are 100% integrated into the college and considered University students. This means you can run for college government positions, play in college sports teams, try out for University sports teams, join the choir, join the Oxford Union, join the Film Society (and any/all other University societies you'd like), etc. I joined the University Volleyball team and played schools, including Cambridge, from around the UK. It was a great experience that really helped me integrate socially and culturally into Oxford. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I actually didn't have any health issues whilst at Oxford. However, in the first week, the nurse met with all of the new students and outlined what to do if we did have any health issues. |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Oxford, because Oxford is completely a college city. There are college students bustling around all of the time and it's difficult to feel alone. The colleges are very good about keeping locked doors shut, recording visitors, etc. If I have any advice for future students, it would be to walk with a friend when it's late at night (e.g. past midnight). Also, know which streets (like Cowley Road) are more sketchy, and keep that in mind when you're navigating around the city. |
| 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) |
The United Kingdom is incredibly expensive for American students. I spent an unexpectedly high amount of money during my year at Oxford, around 200 dollars a week. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 200 dollars/week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Think about ways that you can save money with food. I would have saved money if, at the start of each week, I planned out what I need for food that week, and made sure to eat all of it. |
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? | It is normal to feel scared, nervous, and uncomfortable when you first arrive. Even after you're there for one, two, or even eight months, it is still normal to feel scared about aspects of the experience, because it's a different country and culture. But it is so important that you don't let that fear or nervousness keep you from experiencing Oxford to the fullest. If there is a club you want to try, then join it. If you want to join a sports team, join a sports team. If you want to sit with that group of Oxford students in the dining hall, sit with them. Decide that you want to do these things more than you are afraid of them. This experience will be over in what seems like the blink of an eye, but it will seem that much more fulfilling, and bring back that many more happy memories, if you take advantage of everything you want to try. |
