Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I want to go back! Past Review

By (HISTORY., Trinity University) - abroad from 02/12/2012 to 06/21/2012 with

Arcadia: Dunedin - University of Otago

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Friends - I loved meeting other Americans from all over and a few good Kiwi friends.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I took 4 classes and they were pretty indepth.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I loved the overall advisor from Arcadia, Jane Gunn-Lewis.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had a studio apartment thanks to University Flats. So worth it!

* Food:

Food was expensive. Make sure you have plenty of spending money whether eating in or out.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Lots of drinking and partying obvious but plenty of other options if you don't want to drink.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

They had plenty of information during orientation, but I never had to use health services.

* Safety:

Cops and security everywhere. Felt really safe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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 needed a lot of money to spend on food and travel.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Not sure. $3000 in 4 months, maybe.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Do group dinners with the flat and use moneymonk to split the costs of the flat.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

English was the first language. Maori was present, but only a few vocabulary terms, like Kia Ora, were encouraged.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? It's English!
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? English!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • New friends
  • New living envrionment
  • Fall/autumn
* What could be improved?
  • Less time with Arcadian students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how cold it got in Dunedin. Be prepared to wear several layers INSIDE as flats don't have central heating.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Modern History of Japan
Course Department: History
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Medium-hard difficulty. Interesting, but the instructor seemed uncertain about herself.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Intercultural Communication
Course Department: Communication
Instructor: Vijay
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Incredibly rewarding. I learned about so many principles, especially about Orientalism and Maori TV
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Maori Society
Course Department: Maori
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Fun, easy class to learn about the indigenous culture.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Victorian Britain
Course Department: History
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: It was challenging in the amount of reading I had to do and the research paper, but very interesting
Credit Transfer Issues: