<p>My daughter is considering summer programs at both universities. Both offer great academics in her area of interest - English literature, political science, and classics. We tend to lump them together, but I know that each school is distinct. What are the differences, both in the college and in the surrounding city? Which would offer a better summer experience?</p>
<p>I did a five-week summer program at Cambridge when I was in law school, and loved it. I have been to Oxford, but only as a tourist. I don’t think either choice would be “wrong.”</p>
<p>I found Cambridge to have the prettier setting. Much more pastoral Although, I suppose architecturally, both places are beautiful. There is nothing like punting on the Cam or hanging out at The Anchor (which was a favorite spot of Sylvia Plath). Which college would she be in? We were at Downing. </p>
<p>Whichever she chooses, I hope she takes many opportunities to travel to other spots in England on the weekends. So much to see and do! Also, to take advantage of events happening at the University. I attended an amazing organ recital at King’s College one evening. As someone who returned to England later in life b/c of dh’s job assignment, I can tell you it is much more enjoyable as a student. Tell her to have a great time. It’s wonderful that she has the opportunity.</p>
<p>The cities differ a lot. Cambridge is smaller (approx 120,000 people) Oxford is more city like with a population around 200,000. There a lot of parks and open space in Cambridge, whereas the same cannot be said about Oxford. (There are many nice parks, though.) Oxford is more industrial, as for example the BMW produces the Mini there, whereas Cambridge is sorrounded by the “Silicon Fenn”, which is one of the largest high-tech clusters in Europe, and the companies there have strong links with the University. (In fact, the Science Park was developed by the University.)</p>
<p>The Cambridge University colleges tends to be larger and richer than the Oxford ones, but with the exception of the surroundings, this would not affect a summer school programme.
I hope you are aware that there are 31 and 38 colleges at Cambridge and Oxford Uni., and those differ a lot: ancient, modern, big, small, etc. In a nutshell, most people agree that Cambridge is a way nicer city that Oxford, although there are many who would prefer Oxford because it’s more city like. </p>
<p>As regards the universities…Cambridge is nearly always ranked higher than Oxford, the former is somehow more famous, nevertheless both are top 10 universities, so you cannot go wrong with either.<br>
I think the biggest question is what would your daughter prefer in terms of the cities.</p>
<p>I hope you are aware that summer programs have nothing to do with the universities themselves in terms of teaching. They unis simply rent out their rooms to educational companies who make money out of foreign students. The nearest you will get to enrolled oxbridge students is if they have hired some PhD students to take classes. Therefore, I would make your choice based on the best program the relevant companies are offering. Don’t make any choice based on the strength of Oxford/Cambridge in a particular subject. That is irrelevant in this case.</p>
<p>ITA with the above posts regarding the towns. Oxford a lot bigger and busier.</p>
<p>If the intention is to travel round Europe, google stansted airport. This is really close to Cambridge and has a lot of budget flights. Heathrow is the closest airport to Oxford, and has a lot more choice but fewer budget options.</p>
<p>I had been trying to think of the name of that nearby airport - Stansted. I went to Paris for a weekend in my program (we never had Friday classes) dirt cheap.</p>
<p>My program (perhaps it was b/c it was law???) was taught by Downing faculty. One guy was a Don? Is that the right word? There was no interaction with Cambridge students, however. Just our little American group.</p>
<p>Well, Colleges don’t have faculties, only the university core have faculties, research centres, etc. Colleges have fellows who, in fact, always belong to a particular department as well. The system is a bit -???- complex, and hard to understand, but the central part of the university, the central administration, the faculties, etc. work just like any other university in the world. The colleges are nice -and somehow outdated- additions, but it’s not mandatory to have a college fellowship if you are a lecturer or professor at the university. Nevertheless, for obvious reasons (more money, privileges, great social life and so on) most people at both universities are eager to become a fellow of a college too, even if that means slightly increased teaching load. </p>
<p>Now, it’s a brilliant question how all of this connected to summer schools 
In any case, cupcake is right, the quality teaching staff truly depends on the particular program; indeed, companies love to hire PhD students, but the vast majority of the programs have nothing to do with the universities or their professors.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the responses. The course at Oxford is at St. Peter’s College, and the course at Cambridge is at Pembroke and King’s College. I am aware that the summer courses do not offer everything available during the school year, but she does not want to spend her junior year abroad. The programs in the UK through her US college are for a full year, and she does not want to miss the entire year. However, she’s always wanted to take a course in the UK - she has spent time there doing other academic work and loved it, so she’s looking for an alternative. I wonder if the academics in the summer programs are rigorous and worthwhile?</p>
<p>If you want to know the rigor of the program, analyze their admissions standards. If a program takes anyone who applies, you can draw your own conclusion.</p>
<p>Regarding Oxford being “more industrial” I suspect the poster who made that comment has never been to Oxford, otherwise he would not have made it. Yes, Oxford has industry. But you need to search it out. I’ve had many a trip visiting Oxford over the past few years (D is a DPhil student there) and have NEVER seen signs of industry. </p>
<p>The Oxford detractors have also failed to mention the surrounding countryside, which is absolutely gorgeous, especially in summer. After all, Oxford sits on the edge of the Cotswalds, with easy train and bus service to a variety of places.</p>
<p>Gourmet…my daughter will be at Oxford this summer for a faculty led program through her honors program and they will be at Wadham College. She choose the Oxford program over the Cambridge program for some valid reasons and some teenager reasons. </p>
<p>Valid Reasons:</p>
<ol>
<li> The two courses offered were more to her liking</li>
<li> The faculty leader is one of her favorites</li>
<li> Only a short trip to London, she will be there the entire span of the London Olymipcs.</li>
<li> An Oxford professor will be co-teaching with her University’s faculty.</li>
</ol>
<p>Teenage Reasons:</p>
<ol>
<li> Warner Bro Studios Leavesden. It opens this fall and has some of the original sets from the filiming of Harry Potter.</li>
<li> Scenes from Harry Potter were filmed at Oxford.</li>
<li> She feels this completes her life and IMO, the driving force behind her choice.</li>
</ol>
<p>How’s that for “how did your kid choose their study abroad program?”</p>
<p>Ha - she sounds like my daughter! It seems that spending time at Oxford is part of her life’s plan as well. Can I ask what type of course your daughter is taking? My daughter is looking at programs through colleges, because her school doesn’t have a summer abroad program - only full year junior year programs.</p>
<p>I’ve spent time at both for short summer conferences, and I think you can’t go wrong either way. Both have walkable town areas, both are overrun by tourists in the summer, both have fantastic universities, both are situated for easy access by rail to other parts of England. I stayed in dormitorites for both conferences, and the facilities were quite nice for that type of residence. In the OP’s situation, for me the determining factor would be which program was more attractive academically.</p>
<p>Gourment,</p>
<p>She is taking a faculty led Upper Level English trip to Oxford through the University of Texas Austin Liberal Arts Honors program. It is not available to non-UT students. If you are curious as to program costs for comparison, PM me and I will share.</p>
<p>Cambridge (Jesus College) grad here, so I’m a bit biased. For the summer, I think Cambridge is much more inviting. It seems more like a university campus, ie. more compact and most of the colleges are near each other. Oxford seems more urban to me (just as a visitor). But I suppose the real question is which program really appeals to her more.</p>
<p>^^ we visited Oxford this summer. I was surprised by how physically separate the various colleges were. Often more than convenient walking distance. I don’t know how much back and forth there are between the colleges, if any, so that may or may not be a consideration.</p>