Program Reviews

My semester in Oxford was transformational. While I expected my tutorials to be unique and interesting, I could have never imagined how inspired and giddy I would feel after each one. My tutor’s insight and suggestions allowed me to study the topics that most intrigued me, and this opened an entirely new realm of learning that I had never before encountered in an American classroom. I was constantly encouraged by staff, tutors, and students, and it was this supportive Christian community that enabled me to thrive in the most intense learning environment I have ever experienced. I came back a better, more confident writer, and all my professors took notice of this. I would highly recommend any BestSemester program because I personally know students who have been to other destinations such has Washington, D.C., and the Middle East, but I would especially encourage any student who is passionate about learning and research to consider Oxford.

This program has provided for me the most influential experiences of my life thus far. It's nearly impossible to sum up the semester in a few sentences, but the lessons we were taught pertaining to the meaning of family, the vast greatness of God, and how to love better are lessons I will carry for the rest of my life. The people of Uganda are some of the most gracious, authentic, and welcoming people I have interacted with, and they took us in with loving arms and showed us what it means to live in their country rather than just be a tourist amongst their land. It was hard, it was uncomfortable, and it was not always fun. It was worth all of that, however, as the I now have a family there that will not fade. We were welcomed as sons and daughters and treated as such, which is something I could never thank our hosts enough for.

My time in Brisbane, Australia was absolutely amazing. I loved every second of my 4 months there. I meet awesome, friendly Aussies and was fully immersed in the culture. I got to go to a NRL game and experience Australian Rugby. I went to Queensland's state fair and it was surprisingly very good and a lot of fun. Australians support their local fairs and events. I couldn't have asked for a better host family. They brought me in as one of their own and treated me with love. I had a delicious home cooked meal every day and they brought me to a lot of their favorite spots around Brisbane. The city of Brisbane itself is the cleanest and safest city I've ever been in. There is a lot to do in the city and will take multiple day trips in order to see and experience everything. The program brought us to several unique places such as: Sydney, a few islands, the outback, and a few live performances. I was also able to do a road trip and really got to see a lot more of the country. The academics can be challenging, but that's dependent on what classes you take. I went to this program for the experience, not academics. I wouldn't change my choice. I got to see and experience a lot. I even had the chance to go to New Zealand for a week. Any Lord Of The Rings buffs will love going to New Zealand. I have memories that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. The weather is also incredible.

The MESP program is one of the most unique and memorable experiences you may have in your life. As an alum, I can still hardly believe I walked inside the pyramids of Giza, rode a camel through the set of Star Wars (also known as Wadi Rum), and listened to esteemed lecturers from anthropologists and professors, to members of the Knesset and the PLO. Most importantly, these experiences were made special because of the people - fellow students and directors alike - that created one of the most loving and accepting environments I've ever been a part of. The Middle East is a difficult region to understand as it is layered by cultural, religious, and political histories that weave together indiscriminately, quite unlike they do in the West. I couldn't imagine a better way to start unpacking these layers and learning to understand the people, cultures, and religions of the Middle East.

I loved my semester with MESP. The program staff are incredibly supportive, adventurous, and culturally involved. They both pushed and supported us in adapting to Jordanian culture, and when we were confused navigating differences, their common answer to our question was, "That's a great question for one of your Jordanian friends." While the program is well-fit to a broad disciplinary interest, students of anthropology, politics, and related disciplines were especially well-fit. The housing is in a great location, the country is very safe and hospitable, and the program includes incredible travel opportunities. Classes encouraged us to see ourselves from other perspectives through study of political conflict, Arabic language dialects, and cultural ways of being. The program prepared me well for a hopeful future in Middle East studies.

This review feels like the written equivalent of the elevator pitch or the two-minute version of sharing my study abroad experience. And yet, after a year back in the States to practice, I still haven’t gotten much better at sharing the “short version” of USP. While it may sound cliché, studying abroad in Uganda truly changed my life. I learned so much about myself and the world through the classes I took, the people I met, and the culture I was immersed in. I built relationships with my host family, Ugandan classmates, professors, internship co-workers, and other students in my cohort that impacted me deeply and continue to do so. What I learned through USP has pushed me to create more space in my lifestyle in the States to focus on investing in relationships and the simplicity of being, rather than being tightly bound to the schedules and over-commitment of a typical college student. Uganda taught me lessons about culture, development, faith, community, and so many other things. If you desire to be culturally immersed, to have your perspective of the world expanded, and to build lasting relationships, you will love USP.

This program has been amazing so far, and we have not been here that long. We have been challenged in all kinds of ways! Academically, it is very rigorous and tough, plus it brings issues and things that one do not learn in class. Additionally, the internship program, the mentorship and the public policy research plus the professional briefings in the amazing places we have been to make this unique and incomparable to anything out there. I love the program and so far it has challenged me personally, socially, spiritually, academically and has shaped my future in different ways. I cannot wait to see how it finishes!