Middlebury College - CMRS Oxford Humanities Program

I had originally gone to the Middlebury CMRS program because I wanted to prove that I was better than anyone else; however, once I realized that there was more to Oxford than merely intelligence (after a prolonged period not going outside), this quickly fell by the wayside. To be surrounded by bookshelves that had their own horizons, maze-like streets you didn't mind getting lost within, and pubs galore to go have philosophical discussions whilst downing another Guinness, it's all a treat that I hope to take part in again. I grew as a result of the program, as I no longer feel as though I have to prove my worth to anyone. Instead, I only wish to grow as a means to become a better citizen of the world.

My time at Middlebury CMRS was really rewarding. Adjusting to a new academic environment and system was definitely intimidating at first, but I grew to really appreciate the change, especially because of how much it pushed me outside of my comfort zone. Until coming to this program, I didn't realize how quickly I could read and write, and that helped me overcome intellectual/academic perfectionism. The tutorial system was definitely difficult and lots of work, but it felt really good to be taken so intellectually seriously by Oxford tutors, and the system also allowed me to create strong relationships with each of my tutors. By the end, I felt very proud of myself for taking on such a difficult course/workload and realizing that I could still keep up and do well. It built my intellectual confidence and also allowed me to meet some really wonderful people and create some really cool experiences and memories.

Participating in this program will forever be one of the best decisions I've ever made. The administration and staff were incredibly responsive to the students' concerns and helped us immerse ourselves into both a new country and intimidating academic environment. The professors they recruited to teach us were also wonderfully knowledgeable and kind; my writing grew significantly under the author Rebecca Gowers and my knowledge of Shakespeare was put into fun twists with Dr. Juliana Dresvina. Apart from the academics, it was invigorating to spend an entire semester with a cohort of students who were just as excited as I was to experience Oxford, learn, and do life together for a little bit (i.e. Thanksgiving dinner, birthday parties, pubbing, shows, traveling). I've come away with a greater understanding of English and history, a group of friends I am so proud to know, and a newfound confidence in my academic and social abilities.