Student review [#12279]
for Spanish and Latin American Studies
at University of Oxford
Oxford, The United Kingdom
I did my bachelors in the Netherlands and masters at the University of Oxford.
Overall, I am very satisfied with my experience of studying in Oxford, in terms of access to world class academic knowledge, networking opportunities, teacher quality and overall student experience.. it just doesn’t get much better than this. Also, the University of Oxford is a highly esteemed brand recognised globally, that upon graduation has definitely opened many doors that otherwise might have remained shut.
However, like most Ivy League Universities, I find that Oxford values presentation over substance. In this sense, it has been frustrating at times to watch professors award high grades to students that conducted poor quality research, but knew how to present their ideas eloquently and/or network with professors. Again, this is mostly a question of personal preference, but for me… coming from a Dutch university that put much greater emphasis on methodologically sound research (but at the same time, all but ignored the importance of presentation skills), it was refreshing to experience both models.
Also, in terms of preparation for professional life, I feel like the potential value of an Oxford degree is strongly correlated with existing personal networks and exposure to professional opportunities. By this I mean that if you already grew up as a member of the global elite, you will likely have a much greater understanding of how to behave and how best to take advantage of the many opportunities Oxford offers its students and alumni. Yet, if you were raised in a working class environment and believe that just by holding a degree from the University of Oxford all professional doors will magically open… you will probably be in for quite a shock upon graduation (and sadly… I´ve seen this happen to quite a few alumni). Oxford is a world class institution that can do wonders to your career, but only if you understand how to use the system to your advantage.