A Semester in Paradise Past Review
By Chris A (Business Administration, Management and Operations., Quinnipiac University) - abroad from 01/01/2013 to 04/20/2013 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Gold Coast - Bond University
I learned to be open to new experiences, to take risks, and to make the most out of each day. The 4 months I spent in Australia were the fastest 4 months of my life and I would go back and start over from the beginning if given the chance any day. The people I met while abroad will always have a special place in my heart and I look forward to keeping in touch with them and traveling back to the Gold Coast sometime in the near future.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Bond Uni is a great place to study abroad. It has a small private school feel, with state of the art facilities and top notch resources, while offering a very diverse student body. You'll most likely have 1 lecture and 1 tutorial per week so there is a strong emphasis on understanding the material and your tutorial is there to help you grasp the information along the way. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The Meriton @ Broadbeach is almost too good to be true. To be a block away from the beach and right in the middle of the Gold Coast with Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta a bus ride away there could not be a better housing option. Everything is taken care of for you, from the cleaning to the room supplies, and the staff at the Meriton as well as TEAN's resident director, Helen, make sure you feel at home during your 4 months abroad. |
| * Food: |
Australian dining options are much like your traditional American options; however, everything in Australia is much more expensive only because they have a higher cost of living with a higher minimum wage. You will most likely be cooking all of your meals, or eating on campus if you have a meal plan; however, sushi is a very cost effective option and don't forget to pick up a $.30 cent cone from Maccas (McDonald's) |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
N/A |
| * Safety: |
The Gold Coast is a very, very safe area, you can walk the streets anytime and feel very safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
I would say students would need about $100 - $150 a week to be comfortable. That includes grocery shopping, and nightlife spending. Then factor in the amount of traveling you would like to do and those associated costs and factor that in. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $125 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Put the money you plan to bring to Australia with you in a savings account and each week transfer $100+ into your checking account so you know that's what you have to spend for the week. It worked pretty well for me. Also, get a Bank of America account and use Westpac ATM's to avoid ATM fees (They are sister banks) |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | How quick the semester would go & how much I would miss everything about my study abroad experience |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
