Oxford Scholastica Review

Oxford Scholastica Academy was the first-ever summer program that I attended. Despite being extremely worried about travelling alone to a new country, Oxford Scholastica Academy's activity coordinators and tutors made the experience so welcoming.

Out of the many subjects that OSA had offered, I chose the discovery medicine course. We explored topics like heart diseases, clinical trials, and diagnostics. We had also done hands-on practicals such as presentations on specific cardiovascular diseases and a heart dissection. I loved how hands-on the whole experience was, from using a UV light to check how cleanly we've washed our hands in case of a surgery to dissecting and looking at a pig's heart. I also enjoyed all the self-study and articles that were provided to me. It allowed me to use skills like critical thinking to enhance my knowledge in medicine. In addition to this, the tutors at OSA are extremely patient. They teach the lectures in an easy and efficient way to learn. Apart from the lectures, she had also described what it would be like to study medicine, giving me more insight into the major. She was extremely kind and friendly, allowing me to learn and study efficiently.

Other than the academic side of OSA, I was able to learn lots of life skills, such as independence, learning how to take care of myself, navigation and so on. OSA gives enough freedom for students to go and independently explore the town while also keeping track of their safety. During my time there, I learnt how to navigate around the cities, like looking for restaurants and different sightseeing locations. I faced some challenges with payment since I only brought cash, while most restaurants used card or e-wallet payment. To work around this issue, I researched locations that accepted cash before visiting. This experience taught me valuable skills, such as managing my own money and finding nutritious yet affordable meals.

Lastly, the OSA experience allowed me the opportunity to make new and long-lasting friendships. Throughout the program, I got to connect with my housemates and peers through game nights and sports in the park. I had managed to connect with students from all over the world, each bringing their own unique perspectives and experiences. These friendships went beyond academics, and I got to share ideas, opinions, and grow from these experiences.

Overall, OSA has been and will be the best summer program. While being there to study, I also got to learn more practical and useful skills like teamwork & independence. It gave me enough freedom to not only study and learn about my course but also allowed me to explore the town and create lasting bonds.