When people hear the word Oxford, they think of a very selective and highly demanding school.\u00a0 And it’s true; the University of Oxford is an elite institution.\u00a0 However, Oxford usually doesn’t conjure up images of the town itself.\u00a0 I will not deny that parts of the town were beautiful, but many parts were a bit too touristy.\u00a0 At certain points throughout Oxford I felt as if I was just walking through a series of strip malls.\u00a0 Such sights were not what I expected Oxford to look like at all; instead I thought I would be seeing just a picture perfect small college town.<\/p>\n
On top of this, those “lucky” enough to have been with a certain tour guide are aware of how boring Oxford can be made to be.\u00a0 I know our tour guide had the best intentions, but the manner in which he toured us around Oxford made me want to fall asleep.\u00a0 If that is a glimpse of the Oxford experience, I’ll gladly take Dickinson.<\/p>\n
That said, the colleges of Oxford are amazing.\u00a0 The architecture is beyond belief and to have the opportunity to study at one of the colleges would truly be a privilege.\u00a0 The dining hall we visited was extraordinary and surprisingly cheap to eat at (3 pounds for a meal if I remember correctly).\u00a0 Speaking of prices, I have to say that the price of tuition caught me off guard.\u00a0 To pay only 9,000+ pounds in order to attend this elite institution is something I am still trying to wrap my mind around.\u00a0 If only Dickinson would follow suit…<\/p>\n
Something I found particularly interesting was how hostile the university was to the sciences.\u00a0 Having a completely separate science library so that it wouldn’t “infect” the classical studies of the students is fascinating.\u00a0 Though it does make sense now that I think about, I still believe that such an attitude shows just how far we have progressed; science is no longer seen as an enemy (at least by those who can actually think on their own).<\/p>\n
In the end, the University of Oxford was truly an awesome experience.\u00a0 Though the tour guide was a bit boring, he still explained the history very well (and made us ponder the universe and infinity).\u00a0 I only wish the town of Oxford itself was less touristy and less ritzy.\n\t\t