Program Reviews

My experience in Nice during the summer of 2016 was incredible. Not only did it help me mature mentally, but it helped me to grow culturally and academically. My art history class, taught by Michel Remy, opened my eyes to ideas about art that I had never experienced. Being able to see the art up close, around Nice and at the MAMAC, the stunning beaches of the south of France, the weekend excursions, and the food were all factors of a magnificent experience that I would not trade for the world. The most incredible part of the program, however, was definitely my group's RAs. During the attack on Bastille day, Ashleigh and Kenny were compassionate, kind, understanding, and gave us a family to comfort during that terrible time. I could not imagine my Nice study abroad program without their endless support and generosity.

Overall, I had a great experience in Nice. Obviously, I had a pretty scarring experience, but otherwise, I learned a lot of French and gained a unique cultural perspective. The food was good; the teachers were supportive and friendly; we had the opportunity to travel to many unique towns along the French Riviera. Furthermore, I also gained friends with whom I am still in contact. Accommodations were tight, but that was just another part of living in a different country.

This trip gave me many 'lifetime' moment. It gave me a chance to my best Lifetime friend, Lorraine and Lilian. It gave me lifetime memories of myself traveling along to the UK and the chance of studying in Oxford even it was only at LMH. I love climbing up the St.Mary towel and the best memory I had there was I yelled "Summerfuel" and I think the whole Oxford heard me. I, at that moment felt like I was above standing at the tip of the Earth. One month felt like I had just spent my lifelong there with great people, great teacher, great housing, great environment and definitely, great FOODS and ice cream from G&D! That's also the best ice cream I have ever eaten in my life.

Spending the summer in Oxford is fascinating enough, but the Summerfuel program made my time in England superb. There was a perfect balance between academics (about 4 hours per day and taught by actual professors!) and free time. While other programs at the college where we stayed could be found milling around the lawn, members of Summerfuel were busy playing games in the park, punting down the river, visiting museums, and exploring shops in the city. Not only was it a challenging academic experience, but it was enjoyable and filled with new experiences.

When thinking about my summer at Oxford, a smile always comes to my face. I don't want to use clichés, but I'm afraid I will this time, because with Summerfuel I indeed had the best summer of my life.
But not only that, I learned more than words can express, personally and academically. Whatever course you decide to take, I guarantee that you will be taught by the best teachers you could imagine; I never met anyone who wasn't completely satisfied with their classes. I took Creative Writing in the morning and Oxford Authors in the afternoon, two great options if you are interested in literature. From my experience, the lessons were never boring, for there was always a place to visit, a song to listen or even a guest speaker that was related to the course material and that, more than guide us through a lesson plan, inspired us to write the best pieces we could or understand the novels from an unseen aspect. Oxford is a magical place, full of history and beauty, and the teachers know that, which is why they will never hesitate in taking you around town for a truly educational and stimulating experience. Besides, they are friendly and always available, and so knowledgeable you might even want to stay quite and just hear them speak.
One of my favorite parts of the program is the freedom we are given. Every single day we had hours in which we could walk around Oxford and discover what we may not have seen before, trying restaurants, visiting shops and museum, or just enjoying a pic nic in the park. The town is so safe, that even though I was in a new place I never worried about my adventures. In the additional weekend trips to London, Bath, Broughton Castle, and Belheim Palace, we were granted large amounts of time for independent exploration as long as we were with one or more friends. But in case we didn't find anything to do (unlikely anyway) the RAs organized activities every single day in our free hours, from movie nights, to going ice skating, or even dancing at a local club during a night for minors! They offered so many activities that I couldn't do them all!!! The additional trips, like going to the theatre in West End and the London Bike tour, were opportunities that completed my stay and allowed me to do things I couldn't have done anywhere else.The weekly seminars expanded my knowledge in topics that went further than my lessons, and the first-hand advice and experience of the staff never made me doubt my safety.
Overall, this was one, if not the best experience of my life. And even though the places I visited and the classes I took were extraordinary, nothing compares to the people I met. Nowhere else would I have been able to talk for hours about books or poems, or about music or the Chinese language. The people that attend the Summerfuel Oxford program have a passion so deep and wonderful for something, that led them to travel to another country (and most of the time also continent) to study it and live it, and none of them hesitate to share it. Suddenly, I saw myself immersed in a wonderful universe where I learned more about myself and the world by talking to people, than by reading a textbook. The RAs are young and loving people that know more than you would think of, come from places you have never heard of, and do everything in their hands to make you feel at home, creating a family for you and your floor mates.I never thought I could get so close to so many people in such a short period of time.
Like many, I cried when I left, because it is an undeniable truth that Lady Margaret Hall, and Oxford, became my home.

As an almost senior in high school, the thought of leaving my home and everything I have ever known behind scared me. This is the reason I chose to attend the pre-college program at Oxford University, I wanted to be prepared for the day when I would have to leave my home and start fresh. Summerfuel's fantastic program offered me endless opportunities to live the life a typical university student would.

In addition to the phenomenal and supportive staff, I met people from all around the world who literally changed the way I viewed the world. I met people from Russia, Colombia, and so many other nations. I come from small town New Jersey, so meeting people who came from such different backgrounds not only helped me expand my knowledge of the world but also helped open my mind to making friends who were vastly different from myself. My most cherished memory from my summer is spending time with my two best friends in the program. Both of them are incredibly different from myself, but that is exactly what I love about them. Befriending them and having them become like family to me has taught me that no matter how different someone is from myself, I should never doubt the possibility of a connection. I still FaceTime those two and so many others from the program.

In addition to the social aspect of the program, I also was able to take invigorating classes that actually helped me decide what major I wanted to pursue while at university! I also got to experience the English culture at one of the best universities in the world, really there is nothing more special!

The program is perfectly designed to allow students to have the freedom of a college student but also to feel the comfort and security that we are all familiar with at home!

I learned how to make friends and live apart from my family, which has ultimately made me feel like I am ready to take on the next four years of my life!

Choose Summerfuel and you will have the summer experience of a lifetime!

Going to Barcelona I was very excited to get this "precollege experience" the reality of that advertising quickly diminished. This is not a pre college experience. You are constantly being baby sat by unapproachable and rude staff. They have you running around from the time you get up at 8 am most days to when you get home around 9 pm some days. The senior staff and RA's for the most part don't get along which is a great comic relief but also really shows the maturity of the staff. The classes are far too long, you don't learn very much in the end, and the elective afternoon classes are more useful to use as a nap time. I strongly advise not going on this program if you're over 16 because you have absolutely no freedom and aren't allowed to even leave the residence at any time while you are there. We also spent multiple days at children's amusement parks which were dull and miserable to those who didn't want to spend their precious Barcelona time in a theme park much worse than any in the states. I hope this review saved you from wasting your time and money.

I went on this program, intrigued by the glossy brochures and, I'll admit, beautiful people pictured on their website, enjoying gelato and getting a tan. What I failed to realize was that these kids were the most privileged, stuck up, exclusive people I have ever met. I did a lot of research before trying this program, and called people who went on it before. I disregarded their comments that it was a cliquey program. Honestly, these teenagers just killed it for me. I have a lot of friends at home, and we are all relatively privileged. But we are down to Earth as well, and these kids were not. I think it was a geographical difference.

My experience would have completely changed had I been with a friend. I just felt very alone on this trip. If you are considering a Summerfuel trip, I strongly recommend you go with someone that you know.

Other than that, the program was very nice (you get what you pay for, and this program is expensive). The facilities were nice, maybe a 20 minute walk from the center of town. Dinner was good, breakfast was generally a croissant, very Italian.

The site has some false advertising. There was not an intermediate Italian class offered. Also, many students were disappointed that there was no disco night. The curfew was 11 every night, which I thought was reasonable. The security is very good, although we had free time from after dinner (around 7) to 11, the doors locked at 11 so you better be back.

Florence is a beautiful city, and you get to know it well. We also went on the weekend trips to the various cities. They are almost all very similar tourist traps, so I preferred to stay in Florence. However Cinque Terra is beautiful, we all wanted to go back there.

As I boarded the plane to leave behind all my friends and family for an entire month, I began to wonder, "What was I thinking?" And then I arrived at Summerfuel Oxford. Right away, I made immediate friendships with a great group of people, and the relationships only expanded over the course of the program. We began to explore Oxford; in all of its complexity, its history, and its beauty, simply put, it's amazing. Deciding on a new lunch experience every day was a highlight of exploring the city, and with the vast array of things to do, it never got boring. From the busy bustling streets of the day, to the nearly empty streets of the quaint and quiet town in the evening, life in Oxford is something you're sure to miss as soon as you leave. The classes were wonderfully informative, entertaining, and it was more than evident that the teachers truly cared for us and wanted to see our knowledge grow. The outings to London and Stonehenge, among other things, were an absolute blast, and made for a true English experience (I particularly enjoyed the bus rides through the countryside). All of that being said, I have to return to the friendships I made. Never before at a summer program have I become so close with the other participants; I can honestly say that many of the people I met I now count among my best friends. We were all thrown into the experience as strangers, but emerged changed in more ways than one. Together, we discovered new cultures, new people, and even new emotions that we hadn't experienced before. Four months later, I still speak with everyone daily, and I'm so glad to have met them. Summerfuel Oxford is an experience that will stick with you, not just for the summer, but quite likely for the rest of your life. Believe me when I say there is nothing else like it, and you would be making an atrocious mistake to not attend. Please feel free to contact me with any inquiries or if I can assist in your decision-making process in any way.

Not only was communication great before the students left but it continued throughout the trip. Registration and paperwork was organized and easy to complete. It was very apparent to us that they had thought the process out and had done it for many years.

Our son loved the program and can't wait to participate again. Not only did he learn cooking and language but he was able to soak up so much more than that. I give Summerfuel an A+ .