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Kangaroos,snorkeling,bungy jumping, travelling, and a little bit of studying in Australia
AIFS: Sydney- Macquarie University
Program Information
Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of local culture, a wealth of cultural activities and excursions are included in your program fee.
Famous for its palm-fringed white sandy beaches and clear azure seas, Fiji is paradise come true. Cultural roots and traditions are... More
| Provider: | AIFS |
| Hosted at: | Macquarie University |
| Location(s): | Sydney, Australia |
| Year Founded: | 0 |
| Website | Take me there! |
Review By:
Jessica S. (Biology, Saint Anselm College) on December 20, 2011
Overall Rating
Personal Information
| * Start Date: | 2011-07-14 |
| * End Date: | 2011-12-03 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The workload is not as heavy as it is in the States. Most of the time it is just keeping up with the readings and making sure you are prepared to speak in tutorials. Some of the teachers could care less if you pass the class or not. One of my classes had 1,000 people enrolled in it, so the teacher didn't even know my name. You have to make yourself do the work an not fall behind. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The program itself was great but the study abroad advisor at Macquarie was not helpful to me at all. She was never there to answer our questions and when she was there she couldn't answer them. Having the monthly allowance was great to have for food and transportation into the city because it does get expensive. |
| * Housing: |
The housing was great! It was a two-floor apartment with a kitchen, living room and dining room. There were 5 beadrooms with their own bathroom. It was less than a 10 minute walk to class and about a 10-15 minute walk to the train station which took you into the city. |
| * Food: |
It is easy to go shopping for food to accomodate any dietary need. Woolworths was the local supermarket and was about a 10 minute walk from where we lived. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The trip to see an opera at the Sydney Opera House was a night I will never forget. It was unreal to actually be sitting in the Opera House watching an opera. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
It was very safe in the area that I lived in. Everyone had their own lockable doors for their rooms and apartments. I actually had minor surgery in Australia and I was surprised in how great the care at the hospital was espically for me being from a different country. My program helped me reschedule my finals to make sure I was able to take them before I flew home. |
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* Home Institution Advising:
How well did Saint Anselm College prepare and support you for your time abroad? |
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Give yourself a limit to spend each week or month. That way you know what you can afford to buy or not. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same program? | Yes |
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you are looking for a program that has events planned for you, gives you an allowance every month and allows you to connect with students from across the world, this is the program for you. |
| * What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? | My study abroad experience in Australia was something that I will never forget. I had an amazing time and became a stronger and more independent person. I got to travel to Fiji, New Zealand and 4 out of the 8 states and territories in Australia. I snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, fed kangaroos, saw an opera at the Sydney Opera House, went bungy jumping and so much more while I was abroad. The semester I was away flew by and I can honestly say that at some point in my life I will return to Australia. |