Oxford Semester Abroad – Kaushal Vaddiraj

(Tom Quad at Christ Church in Oxford. Photo courtesy of Toby Ord.)
(Tom Quad at Christ Church in Oxford. Photo courtesy of Toby Ord.)

The University of Oxford and its tutorial system are world renowned and the prospect of learning at one of the oldest universities in the world is hard to pass up. The Honors Program sends three students every semester to learn under the tutorial system where you are paired up with an Oxford Don to study and research a subject of your choice. I was expected to write a paper and defend my stance on a particular topic orally with the Don each week. This one-on-one educational setting is as incredibly rewarding as it is strenuous, and instilled in me the work ethic needed to do research independently and produce high quality work, week in and week out. In addition, interacting with students from other disciplines and cultures broadened my perspective on a variety of issues and taught me the virtues of debating with respect.

Oxford Semester Abroad – Huseyin Keskin

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Studying at Oxford University completely changed the way I perceive the world and my role in it. In addition to the fact that I had one-on-one tutorials with some of the most renowned professors in the world, being in an environment with the world’s smartest people elevated my expectations for my career. I realized that many of my dreams and aspirations are achievable.

This one semester studying at Oxford University opened new doors for me. I initiated the first official Oxford-University of Tampa partnership in UT’s history. I received internship opportunities from top companies that I would have only dreamed of working for prior going to Oxford University.

This one semester experience has changed my life and made me aware of what kind of impact I can have on the world. I cannot be more proud to have studied at one of the world’s most prestigious universities as a representative of, and thanks to, the Honors Program at The University of Tampa.

Harvard National Model United Nations – Kaushal Vaddiraj

The UN Headquarters in New York City. Photo courtesy of Neptuul.
The UN Headquarters in New York City. Photo courtesy of Neptuul.

One of the opportunities I had while part of the Honors Program at The University of Tampa was attending and leading UT’s delegation at the Harvard National Model United Nations. The annual conference held in Boston hosts over 3,000 students from universities all over the world with the aim of simulating the workings of the United Nations. The learning curve on this experience is extremely steep and in the process of negotiating deals, building alliances, and writing resolutions, you learn about the importance of global collaboration as much as you learn about the world.

It matters to a certain extent what school you attend, and UT is as good a place as any. But it matters much more what you make of the school you attend. The Honors Program, in that light, represents a unique blend of opportunities that enrich your entire college experience and provide a boost toward achieving your life goals.