Life-Changing June 01, 2022

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was extremely surprised by the academic rigor that Oxford provided me. Although I was not expecting to be as busy as I was, it was a pleasant surprise and has prepared me for my last year at Wellesley. I feel like I have improved my writing and research skills significantly, along with better time-management.

On-site administration of your program

There was not a lot of guidance when it came to my visiting student program. We rarely saw our visiting student advisors (around once per term) and I felt a little lost with the college culture and norms. I relied heavily on my British friends for help when it came to administration and how to navigate it.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I wish that I was located nearer to the college. St Edmund Hall situated all of their visiting students half a mile from the main campus. Even though it was really eye-opening to be able to live independently, it was annoying having to go out of my way to have meals at college. I spent too much money for my own food just because it was more convenient than having a one-hour time slot for the food provided at the main site.

I loved the food at St Edmund Hall and it is obvious that they put a lot of effort into preparing fresh ingredients. However, the hall becomes too cramped with students and the queues were always too long, which became annoying.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Because I arrived a week later than the rest of the visiting students (outside circumstances regarding my visa), I was forced to be friends with my British classmates. I am very grateful for this as I was able to make genuine, life-long connections with people I probably would have never met before.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I wish the health care at St Edmund was more accessible. I found the college nurse to be critical and she would never respond to my emails. I did not receive my NHS number until spring holiday, which was outrageous.

There was a person living in our accommodation that had been forced to move out due to sexual harassment issues. I was extremely disappointed with the way that St Edmund administration handled the situation. The person was very dangerous and yet, they placed him in on-campus housing instead, living right next to first-year women. I still do not understand how or why he was allowed to study abroad at Oxford or why his home institution was never involved. Several of us who lived in the accommodation and experienced his behavior reported him to the college, yet never heard of a resolution. They were serious reports.

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

I felt ill-prepared on coming to Oxford and finding how expensive everything was.

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• Other

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

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• Local Students

• local students
• Oxford city itself

• more guidance during the program
• living on college main-site

The Academic or Linguist