A fun, balanced year immersed in a different system Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The coursework, overall, was not as rigorous as what I am used to at my home institution, and I don't think the tutorial system made sense for my subject. I ended up learning less in my classes than I would have in the equivalent course back home. My tutors were all very helpful during my sessions with them, but I wish we'd had more contact hours since we weren't able to cover very much. I don't think self-study was enough to supplement the short tutorials. Ultimately, a year without rigorous academics felt a little too long.

On-site administration of your program

All the administration members and staff I met at Worcester were kind and helpful, and I'm grateful for the support they gave us throughout the year.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The rooms were spacious and stocked with bedding, towels, and a fridge. I had an en-suite bathrooms and a scout came every other day to take out the trash and weekly to clean the room (which was very nice but felt a little strange since it's not a US custom!). Having a large communal kitchen made it easy to cook for myself.

I didn't ever eat normal meals at hall, but I did attend formal hall fairly regularly. The food was typically very good.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The matriculated Oxford students were mostly friendly and welcoming, but it took me a little while to step out of my comfort zone to meet them. I initially was only close to the other visiting students across the university, but by the second half of the year, I felt much more integrated into the regular college social scene.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had to go to the hospital once during the year, and am really thankful for the support I had from the porters and the administration to figure out the unfamiliar healthcare system. Dr. Mayo and the Dean were in contact with my tutors, and I didn't have to worry about anything until I was able to resume work.

The city of Oxford is very safe and I never felt uncomfortable walking in the dark, but still used common sense, of course. I never had to deal with administration/security for anything safety-related, so I can't common on those resources.

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

This is on me - I cooked most of my meals but I also ate out regularly and had lots of random expenses. My spending wasn't ridiculous, but I know I could have easily cut back if I'd budgeted more prudently.

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• Dorm

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• Local Students

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• Local Students

• the university's programming and opportunities
• the community
• work-life balance

• lectures format
• better accessibility to balls, etc.