My background: I'm a non-traditional student, who decided to return to college and finish my bachelor's degree in order to change careers. My major is sociology. Thanks to a VERY supportive husband and family, I'm a full-time student. When I graduate from CSU, I have plans to attend graduate school to obtain a master's degree and possibly a PhD to allow me to teach at the collegiate level.
Note: I already had my passport, so I didn't have to apply for that as a part of the study abroad process. Here's a timeline of how things have progressed with the CSU at Oxford program:
August, 2012: Received the letter of invitation from Dr. McCrillis, inviting me to apply for the CSU at Oxford Visiting Student Program. Application deadline is January 31, 2013.
October, 2012: Decided to give it a go - why not? My husband (who is as crazy as I am) agrees that this is an incredible opportunity, and I should try to participate if I can. Contact my advisor, Dr. Rik Newtson and one of my other instructors, Thomas Dailey, to ask if they will consider writing my needed letters of recommendation as a part of the application process.
December, 2012: Received my letters from Dr. Newtson and Mr. Dailey. Filled out the rest of my application paperwork during the holiday break.
January 15, 2013: Sent in my application to the Center for International Education at CSU.
January 22, 2013: Received confirmation of receipt of my application and that I will be interviewed on February 22, by Dr. McCrillis and two other faculty members of CSU.
February 22, 2013: Had my interview. Questions not only about my academic and professional goals, but also about social interaction abroad. How will I handle it?
March 6, 2013: Received letter of acceptance to study abroad at Oxford. I'm honestly stunned!
March 8, 2013: Start work on the CSU Study Abroad Scholarship. The Spencer Scholarship covers tuition differences, but I'd like help with the flight and/or travel expenses.
March 11, 2013: First ITDS class of preparation, coordinated by Ms. Lawrence. Also started applying for study abroad scholarships outside the CSU system.
March 18, 2013: Applied for the CSU Study Abroad Grant - these are given dependent upon additional available funding.
April 11, 2013: Great news! Received the CSU Study Abroad Scholarship - this will pay for my flight!
April 18, 2013: Bad news.... no CSU Study Abroad Grants have been issued due to low funding.
April 29, 2013: Final ITDS class. Exciting to see the power point presentations by the other students. Each of us covered a different sociocultural aspect of where we will be studying.
May 14, 2013: Had a physical to make sure I'm good to go overseas for several weeks. Also got my first official email from Oxford! Now the U.K. paperwork process begins.
June 5, 2013: Have to complete my U.K. visa paperwork. Emails flying back and forth between myself and Regent's Park administration. Unlike most students who are only attending for one term, I opt for the more expensive Tier 4 Visa. This will allow me multiple visits outside the U.K. if I want to go to Paris or Amsterdam during a weekend. It will also give me options to volunteer while I'm there. All of this is assuming I'll have free time - which is unlikely I know.
June 14, 2013: Now the fun part -- got an email from Dr. Lynn Robson, Coordinator for the International Visiting Student Program at Regent's Park College, Oxford. She gives me some options for my two tutorials at Oxford. Also turn in course equivalency forms to the CSU staff at CIE to authorize the transfer of credits from my Oxford tutorials to CSU at the end of term.
June 28, 2013: Received an introduction email from my tutor Dr. Ian Finlay, who will be my instructor for my full tutorial, Political Sociology.
July 2, 2013: Received my CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance) email from Regent's Park College. This is a big deal - without it I won't be given a visa for the U.K. to stay and study.
August 5- September 1, 2013: Complete the last of my financial paperwork for the fall term at CSU, including payment of all fees due for the study abroad term.
August 24, 2013: Been watching flight prices all summer. Prices finally drop a bit, and the times I want to fly are getting booked up. Book a flight with Delta. I'll leave on a Sunday night, and sleep on the plane, arriving Monday morning at London Heathrow. Then I'll take a bus from Heathrow to Oxford City Center. Then I'll take the taxi to the Spencer house.
August 26, 2013: Had my biometrics appointment at Homeland Security in Atlanta, to get my Tier 4 Visa for the U.K. Sent in my visa application, rush order, via FedEx to the U.K. Embassy in New York. Got out the suitcase, and started packing the stuff that I don't need to use everyday (coat, boots, extra toiletries, formal clothes for the Friday night formal dinners).
August 30, 2013: FedEx returns my passport, Tier 4 Visa inside. Hallelujah!
September 10, 2013: Got an email from my second tutor, Ms. Funda Ustek. She'll lead my half tutorial on Sociology of Industrial/Welfare Societies.
September 12, 2013: Had a dinner meeting with Dr. McCrillis, Ms. Lawrence, the other students going to Oxford this term, Mr. Larry Kees and his lovely wife Rhonda. Mr. and Mrs. Kees will be our house directors at the Spencer house during Michaelmas ("mickel-muhs") term. Also bought my travel insurance. Each of the students agree with me that last minute panic has begun. Only two more weeks and we leave. REALLY packing now. Using space bags to compress my thick clothes. Also making sure I have the right power convertors and outlet convertors to charge and use my electrical devices.
September 13, 2013: Bought my BritRail flexiplass online, as well as an Oyster Card. This can only be bought while in the U.S., but offers significant discounts for rail travel inside the U.K. The Oyster card offers discounted fare on the London tube (subway) system. Put together a file of important documents I'll need when going through U.K. customs.
September 24, 2013: Notified my credit card and bank administration that I'll be traveling overseas, so they will be aware of transactions occurring outside the U.S.
I'll post closer to my flight date to update the last minute preparation activities.
Lastly, here's a blog I've been following to learn a bit about local Oxford news; he also posts some good photos. http://oxforddailyphoto.blogspot.com/
