<p>For those who know something about it: <a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=517274%5B/url%5D">http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=517274</a></p>
<p>It made me wonder, because I had the naive impression that going to Oxford would be nothing short of a fairy tale.</p>
<p>I think it can safely be said that that article's a bit of an exaggeration. There will always be students unhappy with the general atmosphere at Oxford, or who feel that the entire system's a little bit too stuck in tradition for them, or who simply don't like the academic stress of the place (it's a lot more specialised than an American undergraduate experience -- you're only taking classes within your major). There wil also be students who love Oxford, and would be very unhappy at Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. I know Oxford undergrads who adore the place, I know some who don't. In the end, it all really comes down to whether in your opinion, it would be a fit for you -- many people consider Harvard a fairy-tale, but it isn't one; it's a great place and a wonderful school, but it has imperfections. Oxford is similar.</p>
<p>Personally, I didn't really like that article (admittedly because I had an instinctive hackles-up reaction to its tone!). Still, it probably has a lot of truth behind it, but there's also the fact that a) it's about graduate study -- undergraduate life is probably very different, and b) the perspective of two students isn't the perspective of everyone.</p>
<p>I don't think it should be any great secret to anyone with an ounce of intelligence that Oxford and England in general are an expensive place to live. Did these students do no research at all?</p>
<p>PhDs in the UK don't follow a "programme" as such. You are more like an employee. As a scientist I was given a topic to research and sent away to the lab to do it. My supervisor and the laboratory post-docs were always there if I wanted them, but it was up to me to plan my own research and arrange help/tutorials if and when I needed them. Arts PhDs have an even less structured life. If you just sit their waiting for someone to do stuff for you, it won't happen. All they from high school age in Europe in general students are much more in charge of their own learning (and parents are less involved). If you are not happy with independent learning, Oxford is definitely NOT the place for you (and in the winter it's dark by 4pm, so the shops close. They're open till 8pm on Thursdays only. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out either. Supermarkets are open till 11 or 12pm. People who can't cope without constant shopping should also not be let out alone).</p>
<p>Some US students in the UK (and probably elsewhere) do not fit in because they complain about EVERYTHING that is not exactly the same as the USA. I don't know they go abroad because they are determined not to enjoy it. You have to accept things are different and that doesn't make them bad. This isn't my country either and there are things I like, and things I don't like. There always will be (actually a large percentage of US tourists are like this too. Why they ever leave the country I do not know? Poor service is almost guarenteed as well because Americans are very prone to YELLING all the time. You do not realise what a loud country the US is are you will be mis-interpreted. These people, though a minority, give the US a bad name abroad. You have all seen them).</p>
<p>There's an excellent discussion of the article on the Harvard forum, might be worth a look if you're interested in Oxford. <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=308925%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=308925</a></p>
<p>no, seriously, Crimson started get me really upset with its articles. I'm especially unhappy with the content of its articles!</p>