One of the wonderful, liberating things about the Internet, is the feeling that you are in control, that you don’t need a middle man, that you can do it all yourself. And it is true, up to a point.
We are seeing more and more families applying directly through providers, doing all their research online, booking flights, visas, airport transfers, doing virtual tours of boarding houses and facilities. So you may wonder, what is the point of using an agency like Campus Oxford and paying an extra fee?
I would start by saying that we are a very small team, there is Ralph, our Director and Founder, Ruth, our registrar, and me (Abigail). We all wear many hats but, put simply, I do all the promotion and marketing, newsletters, social media, and our website; Ruth talks to families on the phone, helps them with their applications forms, helps them find the most suitable programmes, checking capacity and dates, and is a liaison between the parents and the provider.
Ruth has all the information you are looking for at her fingertips, and can call you in the evenings, at the end of a busy day, to answer all your questions, whether it be “what time is evening curfew?” to “how many hours of teaching will there be a day?”
During the application process, before the summer starts, we are in constant contact with the provider and will keep our families informed, sending out reminders and making sure that all the right documentation is in place prior to travel. If your child has a medical condition, or an allergy, we will make sure the provider has put everything in place their end to support your child. If your child has additional needs, or anxiety, we will keep an eye and give them extra support should they need it.
Once the summer starts, Ruth and I will often meet students in Oxford or Cambridge, just to see how they are getting on. We will check in during the course, and the most valuable part of our service, is that we are available, at the end of a phone or email, and we will deal directly with any problems on the ground. We are not bots, or automated services, we are just two working mums to teenagers who understand how daunting sending your child abroad on their own can be. We will get to know you and your teenager to make sure they have the best experience possible.
Finally, is it more expensive to book through us? The short answer is ‘no’. We can offer discounted prices! What’s not to love!
