Is there anyone who has traveled or lived in Oxford, England for a long enough period of time to answer questions like...where is a good place to buy/rent a bike, what is the girls' fashion like? (esp. on the campuses)...I'm studying abroad with a program where you are completely emerged,unlike most programs where the whole thing is with a big group of Americans so I would prefer not to look like a tourist for 4 months..ha.

There's a list of cycle shops at
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/travel/cycling/cycle_shops
It tells you which ones hire bikes.
Personally, I'd buy a cheap old bone shaker and sell it back at the end of your stay, assuming that nobody has pinched it ;-)

BTW, forgive me, I was once a governess after all, but I think that you will be submerged rather an emerged.

I spent my junior year studying PPE at Mansfield College. It's been a long time so I cannot help you with current fashion, though I did find the students dressed more casually than we did at my university in DC. There are many bike rental shops, so it should not be hard to find one once you arrive.

Oxford does not have a campus in the American sense. It is made up of individual colleges and the university buildings are around town. No one uses the word campus. Also, I think it is called an "immersion program" where you are immersed in the culture rather than an "island program" where the professors are American and the students live with other Americans.

By chance are you studying through WISC?

If it is only 4 months immersion (like a water heater) then you will probably be with a bunch of non-English which will prove quite unlike being at Oxford.

Sorry that sounds very ungracious to me when I read it back. SO I will try digging deeper

If this is a summer school you will not need to know how to dress as that will not be a true student thing more what the visitors where. If it is a Sept to May thing then you may in a college proper and dress will be as the street in UK only down market a bit. Bikes I think the police do an auction of dumped bikes every 3 months or so. Try Goolge oxford police bike auction

I don't ride a bike, but I'm definitely in the minority. The police station or the Porter's Lodge at your college would be good to look for deals. Be sure to get a good lock - thefts are common.

As for fashion, I'm a guy so I'm not that attentive, but it's probably just a touch more formal than in America. Be aware that Oxford is a collection of a bunch of different colleges, and there is not a true "campus" area like you may be used to.

You will be called out as an American right away, no matter how hard you try to avoid it. I've been recognized from way across the room as an American. So don't worry too much about it. It's great that you are getting to mix with some many British students - definitely the highlight of my time here. I try to avoid Americans, and Oxford is now swarming with them thanks to summer schools!

Thanks MissPrism and soleil56...forgive my misuse of the word "emerged"...I was typing quickly before having to run into a meeting at my internship and obviously did not think things through. I understand the how no one says "I go to Oxford" and its all individual college based, but what term do they use instead of "campus"? And I'm the program I am in is OSAP.
Bilboburgler...I will be there from Jan-May of this upcoming year (just getting excited a little early).
THANKS FOR ALLL THE ADVICE..esp. on the whole bike situation- I was told having a bike is a must.

Having a bike is more common than not, but I don't think it's a must. What college are you with, and where will most of your classes be? You may find you have a limited area in which you really need to go.

If we don't start to get a bit of Summer, you might literally be submerged and immersed.
Perhaps you should forget the bike and buy a rubber dinghy ;-)

I did not have a bike the first term. Eventually, I grew tired of walking down Iffley Road everyday and rented a bike before the start of the Hilary term. Depending on your activities and where you live you may not need one.

Apparently, WISC has changed its name to OSAP. You should have an excellent academic experience. Unless it has changed, the other American students on the program will be highly motivated students and very active in extracurricular activities.

I hope you will report back when you are in Oxford.

There is no need for the term campus. You will find that they may talk about going up or being sent down (expelled) but generally you say which building you are going to. You need to know which college you are in, then make friends with the porters, then your scout (she or he who cleans your room) then if you are JCR,MCR etc (Junior College Room etc) then where your department is.

Have a great time

I studied at Keble for 3 years and found a bike a must for getting around, especially once you get to know people at other colleges. Can't stress enough about a good strong lock (and maybe even 2!) as so many bikes get stolen and resold elsewhere. For 5 months I wouldn't bother with anything too new, the more inconspicuous the better.

As for clothing, most students when I was there just wore whatever they felt comfortable in - jeans & t shirt the most popular. However there is such a variety of people there that you'll be fine whatever you wear. Generally if you want the student look, go for the unwashed/worn look!

Finally instead of on campus you would say you were in college

HTH

There's no girls' fashion. People are expected to think for themselves, and you'll find about 5,000 different forms of dress in the main university alone

If you think you look odd (though that's generally, pretty conventional) just go to the city's Primark, where even Americans can afford to buy clothes. Or the amazing vintage clothes shop in Little Clarendon St, where even I can can afford to buy clothes (£5 for a Hugo Boss jacket)

You can email me and I will put you in touch with my daughter who attends school in London. The dress is similar from what I can tell.

Little Clarendon Street (known as Little Trendy Street in my time) is well set up to dress the fashionable student

Wild leap here: UA = University of Arizona? University of Alabama?

If so: Stop tanning!

Arrive early. With an empty suitcase. And just watch and listen. Sorry, everyone WILL know you're not a local. We give off way more clues than we realize, and even after 4 months, you'll still only be getting your bearings.

You're still probably going to end up hanging around with mostly Americans, just because those are the people who will be tossed alone into the pool at the same time, and with whom you have something in common.
Oxford is pretty decentralized, so people don't wander around trawling for new friends -- they've already made their little social bands.

Just enjoy your experience for what it is. Take some trips, don't spend all your time on essays (your peers don't). Don't be afraid to go places alone if you have to.

As for the bike, contact the program or your own college in Nov./Dec. and ask if there are students in other Oxford/England programs. See if anyone in the fall term is leaving and wants to sell their bike.