Oxford University Experience Opens up a World of Opportunity

Sulgi Kim ’26 originally selected Dominican University of California so she could stay close to home, maintain strong ties with her close-knit family, and pursue her dream of a career in immigration law.

Yet, she had always wanted to explore the world, eager to travel beyond her familiar surroundings and immerse herself in new cultures and experiences.

That dream came true last semester when Sulgi was selected to attend the University of Oxford through the Dominican Scholars at Oxford program, which is now in its 10th year. 

The experience of living and studying at St. Catherine’s College, one of the University of Oxford’s 44 autonomous colleges and permanent private halls, was life-changing. Sulgi engaged with academic work that was both intellectually challenging and hugely rewarding. She also formed friendships with people who were just as eager to hear her story as she was to learn about theirs.

It was the ideal way to conclude a college journey that delivered rewarding, often unexpected, experiences both inside and outside the classroom. By fully embracing everything Dominican offers, Sulgi — a history and political science major — developed the confidence to step beyond the boundaries of her neighborhood.

“I wanted to push myself and see what I was capable of,” she says. “Since I came to Dominican I’ve been pushing myself to my fullest, my max, because I want to show not only to those people who didn’t believe in me, but to me, myself, that I’m capable of doing things that I could never imagine.”

Faculty mentorship has been central to Sulgi’s Dominican experience. Encouraged early on by political science professor Alison Howard, Sulgi pursued opportunities outside the classroom that aligned with her academic goals.

She added a concentration in pre-law and, by the end of her first year, was serving as co-president of the Dominican Political Science Association.

Sulgi later interned with the Marin County Office of Equity and worked at E.R.S. Immigration Services, a company formed by Dominican alumna Erika Rosales-Shelfo ’17 to guide clients through services such as family petitions, work permits, asylum packages, and naturalization.

When presented with the opportunity to attend Oxford, Sulgi didn’t have to think twice. She applied and, several months later while on a family vacation in her native Guatemala, received the good news.

“I just couldn’t believe it — my family couldn’t believe it,” she recalls. “I was going to study at the most prestigious university in the world.”

Sulgi arrived at Oxford last fall and immediately immersed herself in a completely new way of studying.

Oxford’s tutorial system differs from that of an American university, with more time spent on individual work and tutorials. Each week students prepare for their weekly tutorial by reading and then producing a paper to discuss with the tutor – a subject expert – who provides immediate feedback. 

Sulgi selected two tutorial courses: international human rights law and the history of the Cold War and its effects. 

“I was the only student in both of my tutorials, and I felt incredibly lucky to have that one-on-one experience,” she recalls. “I genuinely looked forward to each meeting. The work was quite demanding, but I loved it. There was a lot of reading, and I had to submit an essay every week. It was wonderful to share my thoughts one-on-one without the added pressure of a full class watching me, especially since English is not my first language.”

Through this intense work, Sulgi developed stronger critical thinking skills and learned to analyze texts with greater depth and confidence.

Beyond academics, Oxford felt almost surreal. Sulgi made a point of visiting all the university’s libraries, spending hours studying in her favorite spots, including the Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian Library, and the Taylor Institution Library.

Formal hall dinners — three- and four-course meals in historic dining halls — became opportunities to form friendships across colleges. She enjoyed learning ice hockey and exploring the countryside around Oxford with her new friends. She joined clubs and societies — including the yoga club, the walking club, the Oxford Society, the Hispanic Society, and the debate club. She traveled to London, Paris, and Edinburgh, visited Christmas markets, and connected with extended family in Yorkshire.

Oxford not only allowed Sulgi to pursue academic interests, but also to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. It did not take long for St. Catherine’s to feel like home.

“We cooked together, discussed our studies, and supported one another,” she says of her hallmates, many of whom were law students. “I was far from home, but I felt a sense of belonging at Oxford.”

Sulgi’s family enjoyed a constant stream of photographs of her adventures. “My mom was so proud. She was thrilled that I was able to study at Oxford and was posting about it all the time!”

Now, back on the Dominican campus for her final semester, Sulgi is drawing on her studies at both Dominican and Oxford as she prepares a capstone project examining the immigration priorities of presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, analyzing their refugee and amnesty policies and connecting them to debates within the current U.S. administration. She looks forward to presenting her research at Dominican’s Scholarly and Creative Works Conference in April.

Her studies and experiences at both Dominican and Oxford – particularly the insight gained by studying legal frameworks protecting displaced populations — has reinforced Sulgi’s desire to pursue a law degree to advocate for individuals seeking better opportunities and safety across borders.

Her motivation to advocate for others is deeply personal.

As a teenager, Sulgi moved from Guatemala to the United States, reuniting with her mother for the first time in 12 years. Arriving in San Rafael, she had just one month before starting classes at San Rafael High School.

“I went through the process of leaving everything I knew and coming to a new place. It was very hard adapting to a new culture and a new language without many of my family and friends.”

Sulgi’s mother immediately set firm expectations: only English at home, only English-language television, and only English-language books. Sulgi rose to the challenge and excelled.

“That push, that urgency of me learning English, helped me a lot,” she recalls.

In three years, Sulgi advanced from English Language Development  to AP English, while also taking classes at College of Marin.

That struggle is what shaped both her resilience and her determination to pursue a career in immigration law.

“Most of my family are immigrants, and I have seen how they are treated. I just felt it was my calling to represent people in similar situations,” Sulgi says. “I want to serve people who just want a better life and, most of the time, are treated as criminals instead of human beings.”

Attending Oxford revealed something powerful to Sulgi. She is ready to pursue challenges far beyond San Rafael, Marin, and California. She’s eager to embrace what is next as she goes through the process of applying for law school.

Sulgi’s Oxford experience also helped her achieve a goal she continues to hold close: to make her mom proud.
“She has given me everything and worked tirelessly to provide me with a better future and help me fulfill my dreams,” Sulgi says. “Knowing that I could share this accomplishment with her made the experience even more special.”