Program Reviews

The Campus Oxford gap semester program at St. Clare's was amazing! It was the perfect blend of high academic expectations while also being a place where I felt that I could socialize with my peers and explore Oxford, as well as other parts of the UK as well on school-sponsored trips.
I also want to highlight the amazingly supportive Careers office, which helped me so much on my college applications! They are super well-informed and offer great advice. Part of the reason I had to decided to take a gap year was because I wasn't sure where I wanted to go to university, or what I wanted to study, and my careers counselor, Helen Forey, was a huge help in helping me answer both of those questions! When it came time to apply to schools, she had an extensive knowledge of the American university system and guided me through completing the common app and writing my supplements in a way that would paint the best picture of me for the schools I was applying to.
The community was also really wonderful! I had a great roommate, and the housing complex that I lived in (Logan House) was full of really kind and interesting people. On any given evening there would be people hanging out in the common spaces who were always willing to open up their circle and welcome in a new friend. This was hugely important for me, especially in the early days when I was still finding my footing and feeling uncertain and homesick.

Our family has been thrilled with this incredible team. Our daughter returned to Campus Oxford for a second summer. She couldn't wait to sign up for the second time after an incredible time in Cambridge. The program was perfect for her and Ruth even visited the campus to meet her. Our teen loved meeting people from all over the world and still keeps in touch with many of them. The staff is top-notch. I felt she was always in very capable hands. I am grateful to Ruth for all her support. Definitely recommended!

The experience here at St. Clare’s is something I will never forget. It’s been such a great time with friends and staff. My house parent, Jake was the greatest custodian I could ever ask for. My teachers were all incredible, making classes fun with their humor and enthusiasm for their subjects. I will greatly miss board game Friday with Keith, and the jokes we all shared throughout the year. Our activities organizer, Ricky was such a fun person to be around, always smiling and making the activities incredibly fun. Overall, St. Clares was an incredible experience, and one I would recommend to anyone who wants to have a good time and learn.

There are so many wonderful aspects of this program. I loved being able to take small-group classes with some of the best teachers I've ever had. Oxford is an inspiring and stunning city that I never got tired of exploring--with its incredible history and resources the whole city became a classroom for me. Living and becoming friends with students from all over the world was another amazing opportunity. I found there was a great balance between learning, socializing, and traveling (especially around Britain).

This was a great program to do coming out of being stuck in my home all school year! I would recommend this program to nearly anyone, especially those who love learning just as much as they love new experiences. Extremely allergy friendly and understanding of concerns, couldn’t of had a better time anywhere else! If you have any questions about the program, don’t hesitate to reach out to the staff, they are extremely welcoming and useful. I made lots of international friends that I’ll stay in contact with for a long time!

My experience at Oxford university sparked my interest in philosophy, which is my current field of study. More than that, my time in Oxford allowed me to experience new cultures, new thought processes, and most importantly, allowed me to experience a side of myself that was unplugged from the media and more in tune with my surroundings. I am daily inspired by my time there in my writing and in my day to day life.

As an American student wishing to study at a UK university, this program was perfect. I was nervous at first, but Oxford has always been my dream. As soon as I got off the plane, I met one of the many best friends I created. We walked together to the campus and immediately were greeted with other excited teens. Everyone was so welcoming, which is something I hadn't experienced on other summer programs. There was no drama, only kindness and joy. The greatest feeling was when we were walking into Brasenose and there were tourists standing outside the door. My friends and I felt so privileged to have a key when all the tourists started complaining and trying to get in themselves. At that moment, I realized how incredible those two weeks were, and I would do anything to go back to see my friends, amazing counselors, and the beautiful architecture.

I had the best time at CASP in Cambridge. Being right in the town made me fall in love with Cambridge and convinced me to apply to to the University. Throughout the program, I tried things that I had no idea I'd enjoy, like debating and drama. It was an experience that I will never be able to forget.