Oxford: Per Aspera ad Astra - A Rough Road Leads to the Stars Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The tutorial system is very suitable for those who care to gain a deep understanding of what they are studying. Faced with a tutor who asks pertinent, and very often very difficult questions, one has no choice but to try to respond by reading as much of the (very long) reading list as possible, actively thinking thoroughly about what one is reading and (at least for the sciences) make connections between the studied material and other fields. The British system asks a student to choose and focus on his/her major since before coming to college, so I have studied more Chemistry during this one year than I've had in my first two years of college. It was very challenging to focus on one subject like that, but I have learned a lot and, looking back on it, I feel that I am now more prepared for graduate school thanks to this system.

On-site administration of your program

The program seemed more helpful for the students in the Humanities departments (as they have dealt with visiting students with such background most of the times) so I, myself, found their support services a bit unhelpful. Their responsiveness to emails also holds room for improvement.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

St George's Gate is an annex placed centrally near shopping centers and clubs. It is quite far from the science academic buildings, but it is perfect if one has tutorials in St Peter's. The rooms are decently sized and each comes with its own bathroom. There is a common space with a kitchen and living room (one needs to buy their own pots, pans, and plates) as well as a laundry room. The downside of it all is that the showers have their own personality and it can take forever for the water to get hot. The heating was also (at least in my room) motion sensor based, so the temperature would be perfect if one moves every 15 minutes. Waking up in the morning can be a challenge under these conditions.

The food offered by the College dining hall was not very diverse, and it was on a pay-as-you-go basis. I preferred to cook for myself as it turned out cheaper and I could also choose exactly what I wanted to eat. In terms of dining out, the area around my dorm was very rich in restaurants of various quisines: Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Spanish etc.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

My college did not organize that many cultural events, but students can organize their own cultural outings by buying tickets to the theatre, the cinema, or planning field trips to different cities, or nearby castles/palaces. The Junior Common Room (JCR), something like the College Government, always sends out information about cultural, social, and volunteering opportunities. There is always something to do! If they can find the time, students should enjoy Oxford as tourists, as well. There are a lot of museums worth visiting.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

In terms of healthcare, I was quite happy with the NHS (National Health Services), through which you had access to free medical check-ups and cheap medication. My only complain was, as someone who is dependent on antibiotics once the cold season hits, related to their reluctance to prescribe stronger medication. With regard to the city's overall safety, Oxford is generally a safe city. Throughout the year I was not aware of any danger; however, towards the end of the year, all these alcohol catalyzed incidents started making the news. I'd advice studetns to be really careful around clubs and pubs.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Dorm

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• Americans
• Local Students

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• Local Students