SUMMER 2023 ALUMNI: ROSA PRADO 

How would you describe your EP to someone who has never heard of it before? 

I did the Putney Pre-College program with Oxford Academia. We were given choices of Major and Minors to take at one or two of the Colleges in the University of Oxford. These classes, taught by faculty who have graduated in these subjects and are doing research on, have a wide variety of topics and we get a project at the end of the program. We also have optional but worth-it activities to explore the city of Oxford from Day 1 (Sunday). We slept in the campus, and ate breakfast and dinner with the Putney program. I took bioethics and Psychology & AI, two subjects that were somewhat connected due to the ethics and psych of both subjects. I did many tours to explore the city, history and the botanical garden of Oxford--where I met my first friend from Paris.

What is a typical day like during your EP? 

• I started my Bioethics major class from 9 am to 12 pm (We can eat breakfast as early as 7:30 am).

• Lunch out with friends (from Wednesday to Saturday there was a food market of international food, really good where we went many times)

• Go back to campus for my Psychology & AI minor from 1:30-3:30 pm.

• Classes are not too much because I was learning about something that I was curious about and there’s not always work from these classes.

• We have different activities varying from 4-5 pm (Tour of different food places, afternoon tea, some sport like tennis, college tours, and botanical garden).

• We can join dinner from 5:30 pm or hang out in the city and pay for our dinner in the Covered Market, etc.

• Mandatory but always fun community life groups for 30 minutes starting at 6:45 pm.

• More activities or free time. I usually join soccer games from 8 pm until 9/10 pm. There was a big field by my dorm.

• First check-in: 9:30 pm (can’t go out of the campus after then). Second check-in: 10:30 pm (can’t go out of your rooms after then).

What was the biggest challenge of your EP?

I got homesick sometimes when I would go into my room early and look through instagram stories too much. So going out to walk around the campus with or without a friend helped.

What was the biggest reward of your EP? 

The biggest reward was the friendships and the mixture of different cultures within my friend group. I had a friend from Argentina, Paris, Los Angeles and Nashville. Also met others from NY, and I’m excited for my Argertinian friend that’s coming in October to NY. The time spent doing afternoon activities and eating lunch out helped me become almost a local of the city of Oxford. The amount of knowledge about the behind the scenes of the science field, specifically, biology and ecology, made me more aware of what went on with climate change.

What do you wish you had known before you went on your EP?

I wish I had asked for more information about my major and minor, because I would’ve wanted my minor as major. Always ask questions about the specific subjects.

What advice do you have for future SEO scholars who are considering your EP?

Take advantage of the afternoon activities to learn your way around the city and the different food and hang out places. And make friends in your classes and community life groups, that makes for a dinner experience.