Semester at Wroxton College - An American Campus in England

My semester abroad was the best experience of my life. I was able to stay in a beautiful building while I took classes with professors who truly cared to see me learn and grow. Everybody I came in contact with was so nice and friendly, and the students I travelled with became sort of a family to me. I visited so many different places and countries, and gained so many experiences as I travelled both with my school and alone with my friends. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, and I would do anything to live it all over again. Wroxton College truly made Spring 2019 the best semester of my college career. This school took us on trips to the two countries of France and Scotland, as well as offered many other day trips to London and other parts of England.

This was easily some of the best few months I’ve ever experienced. I got to learn from a new perspective, think critically, travel, laugh, and share the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had with some of the best people I have ever met. The staff is beyond kind and caring. The professors were some of the smartest people I’ve ever met. It was such an intimate couple of months. I learned about life, myself, other people, and the world. I learned about different history and culture. I learned how to be independent and travel alone. If you have the opportunity to study abroad at Wroxton College in the UK, take advantage and DO IT because you will definitely not regret it. I built a strong moral ground for myself, as well as life long friendships that have changed my life forever.

Wroxton is like life, it's entirely what you make of it. If you want to have a good experience and embrace the program, you will. My favorite memories are the times I took things into my own hands and went on solo trips on the weekend. I wish the program would've of had more students and would have been closer to London. However, living in the Abbey was definitely a once in a life time experience and super cool. The school work is extremely hard compared to the work in the states, but most of the teachers were super helpful as long as you showed them that you wanted to learn. I learned a lot of life lessons during my time abroad, and I didn't necessarily learn them until I got home. If I knew then, what I knew now...

My experience at Wroxton was excellent.
Studying abroad was a real eye opener, as I learned quite a lot, not only about the UK, but also who I am.
As a student used to the US education system, getting use to the British Tutorial system was challenging at first, but I managed to, and found it fascinating. Seeing how different countries tackle learning and education was a real highlight for me.
A real highlight were the various trips taken throughout the semester. From short excursions to nearby Banbury, to longer visits to places like Bath and Stonehenge and the weekend trips to Edinburgh and Paris, there’s enough variety to satisfy everyone.
Highly recommend for those who want to get the most out of college and to get out of their comfort zone.

I sometimes have trouble on trips where I’m in an unfamiliar place and I feel anxious. However, when I visited wroxton, I did not have any anxiety. The staff is so accommodating and helpful, I felt like i was taken care of so well. It’s difficult to not build relationships with your peers and professors because of how intimate the campus is. A neighborhood cat named Pip is a frequent visitor to the campus and sometimes manages to get into the Abbey. Everyday we have have multiple tea breaks which really allows you to experience and participate in the culture of England. There is beauty in every corner at Wroxton. Wroxton has become a home away from home and I am so grateful for the friendships and memories I have made from doing this program.

One of the best experiences of my life. All the staff at wroxton are extremely friendly and caring. The abbey is absolutely beautiful and rich with history and so cozy to live in. I would go back in a heart beat and if anyone is considering going I would highly suggest they take the opportunity. They made sure we were always busy and learning about the culture while also traveling to different parts of the country. Meeting the locals was also a lot of fun and conversing with them was great. I would say one of the best parts is the resident cat Pip. Pip was always around the abbey hanging out and bringing us “gifts” from time to time. He was never shy with anyone and was willing to be held by almost anyone. I hope one day I’m able to go back

Attending Wroxton College for a full semester was by far the top experience in my educational career and perhaps one of the most impactful periods of my life. I visited 8 countries in 3.5 months, earned a full semester of college credits while learning from engaging, brilliant faculty members, and grew more mature in a shorter amount of time than I ever had before. Every class session taught me something new and gave me more diverse perspectives than most other courses I've taken in college. Every meal felt like my mum had just cooked it. Every free trip to historical locations and European cities showed me new culture. Every night of dancing in clubs with a group of friends in a free VIP booth was memorable. Wroxton helped me grow so much, and I will be forever grateful for the experience I had. While I struggled with my own mental health at the time, there were no spirits which couldn't be lifted by a cup of tea every morning and afternoon or a chat with the ridiculously eloquent and oddly charming Dean Baldwin. (Please don't tell him I said that.) Even when we lamented about the news of Trump's presidency back home, the Brits shared our anguish with daily worries of Brexit and Boris Johnson's equally scraggly blonde mop. I'd never considered the weather as much as I had in that place, where rain was an almost daily happening but was also offset by absolutely gorgeous, sunny, country days... and the faculty love talking about the weather. History was another constant--the Wroxton Abbey gave you the feeling of living in both a museum and an aged estate. It was comfortably renovated while maintaining an air of mystery around every corner, where you might find a suit of antique armor, a painting of a major historical figure who'd lived there in the past, or a hidden passageway you hadn't yet discovered. It was like living in a game of Clue, but without the murder (thankfully). Everything about my time at Wroxton tugs at my mind, begging me to return. I was lucky enough to have attended a two-week Summer course this year, nearly two years after my semester experience, and it felt like coming home. The faculty all greeted me as a friend they hadn't seen for a while, and the feeling I experienced with driving up the way toward the Abbey upon my return was and is indescribable. If you ever have the chance of getting there, do not hesitate. Go, and never look back.

The professors were all absolutely wonderful and wanted everybody to succeed. The staff was also extremely helpful in trying to make the transition into a new country and new surrounding easier for us students to manage. It was a lovely opportunity to broaden our horizons and become more well-rounded and open-minded individuals through lectures and traveling. If it weren't for this program, I never would have had an opportunity to meet some of my best friends and learn and develop so much love about the UK - so much that I am applying to multiple MA programs for next fall in England. The small class sizes allowed for me and other students to develop personal relationships with the professors that left a lasting, positive impression. Any chance I get, I encourage students to study abroad. Even if those students do not attend FDU, I recommend that they look into studying at Wroxton if their school would allow it.