A Worthwhile Integrative Experience (if you go for a year) Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/01/2018 to 06/23/2019 with
Worcester College, University of Oxford - Visiting Students Program
I learned about how to think globally and a lot about English university culture. I also learned much more about the nuances in English culture, such as contentious political issues, English perspectives on the world, life and the cost of life in England, etc.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I really liked the one-on-one tutorial style, but the experience varied dramatically by the tutor. It was not consistent in expectations, grading, and teaching style, which made it difficult to know what to expect. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It was very nice to live on campus, because it dramatically changed my ability to interact with local students. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
It was very good that I was registered with the NHS, and I was very grateful for the healthcare provided. |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I enjoyed everything that the program had to offer. That being said, for the cost, I think that Wellesley could provide much more (a food stipend, a travel stipend, a social stipend, a bike share program, kitchen supplies, etc.) |
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) |
I lost a lot of money this year paying for flights, and did not know until I got there that I would have to pay for every social event. This means that, though I paid Wellesley tuition, where the costs of activities and transport are included in the tuition, I did not get that coverage abroad |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $70 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Plan for inter-continental flights as far in advance as possible. Go to thrift shops for clothes. Sign up for rewards cards at your local groceries. But overall, there's not many ways to save money - you have to spend more than the general program cost in order to pay for transport, food, and social events. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 10+ |
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? | That I would have to pay to integrate by going to social events. Also that everything is quite chaotic and busy, so everyone lives very independently. You must reach out in order to make friends. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
