The Truth About Oxford College
Start writing a post
Student Life

The Truth About Oxford College

So you’ve decided to go to Oxford College of Emory University?

1256
The Truth About Oxford College
Instagram

Congratulations on getting into the 21st ranked private school in the country (kinda). There are a few things that you should know as you embark on this journey. As a first generation college student, I wish someone had been blatantly honest with me as I was making the decision of where to attend. I remember going on a tour of Oxford, the only college tour I could attend, and being baffled by the friendliness and rosiness of everyone I encountered on campus.

To this day, I remember the person that gave my tour and every single lie half-truth he told me to convince me to go. In order to save some of you the strife and headache of unrealistic expectations, I have created a short compilation of insights/advice on Oxford College and what attending there is really like. I hope it helps.

First and foremost, it’s important to remember that college is officially a business. With tuition prices of $60k/year, it is important to remember that any official person you ask about attending any college (I,e, tour guides, faculty, etc.) will bend the truth to make their college seem like the most wonderful place on Earth.

In reality, Oxford is far from being Diet DisneylandTM, and more than likely, you will have a love-hate relationship with it. Therefore, in order to really get the true LiptonTM on the college, it is important for you to step outside of your comfort zone and engage with actual students on your tour. As many as possible, really, because no one person’s experience is identical to another’s, and this way you will be able to hear the unfiltered, (somewhat) unbiased opinions of what being there is like.

Among Oxford’s strengths are smaller class sizes, non-research-oriented faculty, and a small student body. This means that students have the ability to engage with professors, who actually know their names and notice when they are absent, and build a community. For some, this is a great thing, as they believe a closer community and more engagement is what they need academically and socially, as it allows for a chance to be more involved. For others, this means heightened social and academic requirements and expectations, as grades are composed of a range of activities (including participation) and attendance is mandatory.

Many people become so absorbed in the negative aspects of things, that they don’t take advantage of the opportunities presented to them. Go to your professor’s office hours (especially if you don't like them). Those interactions could become leadership positions and recommendations later on. Build relationships with faculty and other students. It could be the key to having an amazing Oxford Experience. Go to events. They are literally less than 5 minutes away, usually involve free stuff, and can be very educational and enjoyable. The more you monopolize Oxford’s strengths and challenge yourself outside of your comfort zone, the better your Oxford experience will be.

Among Oxford’s weaknesses are its location, its limitations, and its size. Many people say that attending Oxford is like attending Boarding School. Oxford is a fraction of the size of my high school and at times, it felt more like high school than my actual high school did. From the gossiping and drama (because everyone basically knows everyone) to the way certain teachers could hound you, at times it felt as though instead of growing within my college experience, I was stagnating/digressing.

Many people will also compare their experiences at Oxford to the experiences of their friends back home that attend different colleges, as they will discuss how they go to parties, Greek life, and other aspects of “fun” college culture, and feel as though they are experiencing a non-alcoholic version of their friend’s alcoholic beverage.

If you are going to College for “fun”, don’t go to Oxford. Oxford has no nightlife. Seriously. Even McDonald’s closes before midnight in Covington. And the Transit system is a joke: arrival and departure times are inconvenient, it’s almost always late, and oftentimes you’ll find yourself fighting for a seat or even kicked off due to lack of seats (if you don’t have a car, make friends with someone that does).

Further than that, there will be severe limitations on classes and clubs, and while they claim you will have access to Atlanta’s perks, you won’t. Upon asking my advisor if it was possible for me to attend Korean courses on Atlanta campus due to their lack of offering them at Oxford, I was told a flat-out no. As a result, I will either have to pay for summer courses or stay at Emory longer in order to complete the requirement.

While you will take a wider range of courses at Oxford, if you are not pre-med or pre-business, it is more than likely that you will need to take extra courses in order to get your degree (and sometimes even the pre-med kids have to due to limited class sizes and offerings). Ultimately, ‘liberal arts’ at Oxford really just means taking a bunch of classes outside of your major in order to graduate from a pre-professional college. Ultimately, whatever you lose, you gain in some other way and it is most important that you are aware of the tradeoff.

At Oxford, the cost of quantity is quality, as it is limited in its clubs and academic offerings, but what it does offer, it delivers the best experience possible to its students. There will be times that you will not believe you are getting your money’s worth. There will be times that you feel you are exactly where you are supposed to be. You will laugh and cry. You will be happy and sad. You will experience something that a very small percentage of people on this planet experience.

Ultimately, you will come out a different person, and a part of a very small, tight-knit community. (Seriously, Oxford people are amazing.) While Oxford isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, whether it comes out more bitter or sweet is dependent upon you whether you choose to make the most of what you are given or focus on what you believe you should have. Good luck.

“There exists limitless opportunities everywhere. Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier.” – Charles Kettering

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

56701
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

36539
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

958371
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

188948
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments