Your academic impression of Oxford will be formed mainly by your experience in tutorials - and how well this functions is bound up largely with the choice of subject. In theory there is a wide variety of subjects on offer at any one time, yet the choice you make must be limited by certain important factors. The tutorial system is completely unsuitable for study on the introductory level: the idea that a tutorial, especially a secondary one, might be a good way to have a taste of a subject is quite misguided. All Oxford courses are taught at the U.S. advanced level, equivalent to junior, senior or M.A. years at leading U.S. colleges (Harvard, Stanford etc.). For example,to ask for a secondary tutorial in logic without having any background in philosophy, would be very foolish. Bear in mind that your tutors will be used to dealing mainly with British students who are required to specialise at a much earlier age than in the United States, beginning even at high school. The best subjects to choose to study at Oxford are thus those where you already possess a good basic knowledge. If you need to take a subject at an introductory level for credit requirements then you should do so at your home university, where such a course will certainly be provided. It is equally important that you take account of Oxford's particular strengths, both in terms of tutors and of material, and the fact that you do not take subjects here which you could do more easily, and probably with better provision, at your home university. For example, asking to study the literature of the Deep South and some arcane subject of the American Civil War, really misses the point of your coming to a foreign country to study, whereas an examination of Matthew Arnold's poetry and the causes of the English Civil War would allow you much better choice of tutors and more material with which to work. Of course, you will be studying in a geographical locality in which these topics would come to life. We want to stress that when you plan your Oxford courses you should not think about what you would normally take next at your home college. You could take those courses later. You should think about how you can best make use of Oxford's usually unique opportunities. "The academic program was very strong. The New College administration was helpful at all times. The WISC admin was also helpful." (With regard to sports and clubs) "Joining the crew team was a very enjoyable experience." SS, Rutgers University Please bear these comments in mind when making your tutorial choices, since they will have a large bearing on the success of your studies here. It must also be pointed out that the Academic Adviser will not arrange tutorials in particular subjects if he believes that your background is not sufficient to enable you to profit from the course. Please note that the provision of any particular course (with any particular tutor) cannot be guaranteed in any way. For all these reasons no tutorial arrangements for your first term of study in Oxford will be confirmed until you have been interviewed by your Oxford Academic Adviser.