Dual-Sport Athlete, Iseline Schenk, Reflects on Study Abroad Time at Oxford

BALTIMORE, MD - Goucher College dual-sport student athlete Iseline Schenk '26 recently returned from an enriching junior year abroad at the University of Oxford, where she balanced academics, athletics, and cultural exploration at one of the world's most renowned institutions.

From a young age, Schenk dreamed of studying at Oxford. "Oxford is renowned for its beautiful cities, its libraries, and its natural surroundings," she said. "When I heard about the opportunity, I knew I had to try."

The academic environment at Oxford proved both rigorous and transformative, with an emphasis on independent work through problem sets, essays, and small group tutorials. This system "really makes you think about your work and solve problems independently," Schenk explained. One highlight was her finance tutorial; her professor emphasized presentations and critical thinking far beyond standard lectures.

Outside of the classroom, Schenk embraced athletics in new ways. She competed with the field hockey and rowing teams at St. Anne's, a college within Oxford, while also joining the Oxford Blues golf team. "Because I was used to practicing a lot more in the U.S., it was easy to adapt, and it felt like I had more free time to explore the city and study for my classes," she said.

Her time in Oxford extended well beyond academics and sports. She enjoyed the vibrant cultural scene, similar to that of her home in the Netherlands, with café-hopping, studying in historic libraries, and attending student-run social events across the colleges. A standout memory was the annual Oxbridge ski trip to Tignes, France, which brought together more than 2,000 Oxford and Cambridge students.

The experience reshaped both her academic and athletic outlook. "Being able to do four math-based classes at Oxford made me realize that I want to pursue a career in economics, focused on mathematics," she said. Returning to Goucher, she is energized for her final year as a dual-sport athlete. "After a year of a 'break,' there is nothing I would rather do than be able to work out every day."

For other student athletes considering a semester or year abroad, Schenk encourages taking the leap: "Even though other countries do not take athletics as seriously as in the U.S., it is a great way to meet the locals and other students and experience the culture."