Exam School on High Street
The week before fall term starts at Oxford is affectionately referred to as "freshers week." Freshers are anyone new to Oxford, be it undergrad or graduate student. The week is full of orientations, inductions, and training to teach students about the interwoven world of Oxford's university system, colleges, and libraries. Here are some of the highlights of the week for us as we prepared for term at Regent's Park College.
Our orientation for the University of Oxford took place Monday from 9-1 at the Exam School at High Street. We received the official welcome from Vice-Chancellor Hamilton, and heard instructions from Dr. Helen Swift on the tutorial method. The OUSU (Oxford University Student Union) gave details from the student's perspective including where to buy some essential items, and how to sign up for the multitude of clubs and extracurricular organizations.
The orientation took place in this room - the examination room - which according to Vice-Chancellor Hamilton, was a room dreaded by more than one Prime Minister, President, and corporate executive. Most Oxford undergrads undergo an individual examination for each tutorial at the end of each term. As visiting students, thankfully that doesn't apply to us!
Monday afternoon we had orientation for Regent's Park College, with instruction give by Dr. Lynn Robson, the Tutor for Visiting Student undergraduates. One interesting fact about Regent's Park College: their motto is, "Test everything; hold on to what is good."
Photo above: Regent's Park College "Quad" - a word used to describe the inner courtyard area inside most Oxford colleges. It's surrounded on all four sides by buildings. Photo below: The room behind all the bicycles is Helwys Hall, where the dining room is located.
Tuesday afternoon was the Regent's Park library induction - training on how to use the college library. (By the way, the Angus Library is underground, and literally goes the length of a football field. It is the largest repository for Baptist Theological material in the world. It also contains thousands of books on politics, philosophy, and the classics.) Tuesday evening was the Fresher's Dinner at Helwys Hall, a welcome dinner for new students. We were required to wear a "gown" which is considered appropriate over your evening attire for dinners at Regent's Park and at most of the Oxford colleges. Gowns can be bought easily in Oxford, or if your lucky, you can borrow one from a grad student who no longer needs theirs.
Wednesday I had a tour of the Social Sciences library, which holds most of the resources specific to my research at Oxford, including sociology, psychology, economics, politics, and even a bit of philosophy. The Social Sciences library is next to St. Catherine's College, where one of our fellow CSU students is studying biology this term. Both are on the east side of Oxford. The Social Sciences building is currently undergoing renovation, like many buildings in Oxford.
Wednesday afternoon I met my political sociology tutor for my full tutorial (think 9 credit hours of U.S. work). Dr. Ian Finlay is a fellow of Harris Manchester College at Oxford. He gave me the syllabus and reading list, we discussed topics, and he allowed me to personalize what topics I want to focus on. The personalization factor is a big part of the tutorial method used at Oxford and Cambridge. I'll meet him each week to discuss the 2000-3000 word essay I produce based on my research on the topic for the week. He's also working with another American student, so she will meet with us to discuss the topic for four out of eight tutorials. Thursday morning I met my second tutor, Funda Ustek, a doctoral student at St. Cross College who studied under Dr. Finlay as well. She and I will meet every other week since I'm taking a half tutorial (think 3-4 credit hours) with her. Studying at Oxford means you may take tutorials with tutors from "your" college, or you might work with a tutor from another partner college within the system. A lot of it depends on the course you choose as well as the tutors' schedules for that term. Many times a tutor will choose to work with a particular student who is studying a topic that the tutor is researching or has an interest in as well.
Thursday was also Fresher's Fair - an event hosted by the Oxford University Student Union (OUSU). Approximately 150 vendors have booths hoping to sign up students to participate in extra-curricular activities. Options include everything from sports, arts, music, hobbies, course major, religious affiliation, political interest, charity and volunteer organizations, food and wine clubs, you name it they have a group for it! I signed up to receive information for volunteer choirs, the C.S. Lewis club, and volunteering for local museums (Ashmolean and Pitt Rivers are my favorites!). I've included a few photos taken from current exhibits at the Ashmolean.
Finally, to Friday! Thankfully, today I spent most of the day beginning research for the first two essays, one of which is due Tuesday. Independent study is largely research driven, so TONS of reading is in order. Tonight, I attended my first official "formal" dinner at Regent's Park. "Fancy dress" is required - nice dresses for ladies, jackets and ties for guys, plus your "gown." Dinner was three courses: salad, steak and vegetables, and white chocolate custard for dessert (BYOW is optional).
What a week! Tomorrow I've got a choir audition, and more research to do. As Dr. Robson said to me today, "Well, we just don't want you to get bored your first week here." I don't think there is any danger of that happening.
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