An Adventure in Australia Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I found the workload to be much easier than I was expecting. I was warned before I left that I might feel almost frustrated by the nonchalance with which some Melbourne students approached their studies, and that is indeed how I found myself feeling, to a small degree. The quality of the professors and the lectures was quite good, but I didn't always feel like much was expected of me, and that definitely impacted my motivation to study and work hard. The grading system in Melbourne is such that 'very few' people are supposed to receive an H1 for a class grade (the equivalent of an A), but I came out of the semester with three of them.

On-site administration of your program

Our on-site program advisor was very accessible and supportive at all times. We were her first group of study-abroad students, so she was not terribly familiar with certain things (like our living situation, university deadlines, etc.), but she was very efficient and got everything done for us in a timely manner. There weren't many/any significant difficulties with cultural adjustments or the program's understanding of American culture. The program met or even exceeded my expectations in some respects.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Our apartment was located in the middle of Melbourne, about a 1/2 mile from the University of Melbourne campus. Our location was fantastic in terms of proximity to nightlife, restaurants, stores, etc. The apartment (UniLodge) staff were not very helpful upon our arrival, and they were not very clear about what was provided for our apartments and what was not. We had to buy many items to settle in- we were not provided with any linens or cookware.

I was happy to cook for myself; there were many small cafes and other places to get food on campus, but I found it more economical (and often tastier) to make my own meals. My apartment was right across the street from a great grocery store, so once I'd invested in a pot, pan, silverware, and dishware, cooking was very little trouble at all. Restaurants in the city of Melbourne is very expensive, so those on a budget should probably not expect to be dining out too often.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

One of the biggest benefits of living in the middle of Melbourne was that there was always something going on, and we always seemed to find out about it. My friends and I attended several free music concerts, sporting events, night markets, and even a runway show at Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. IFSA-Butler also arranged several free trips ("cultural events") for program students, so we went on a winery tour, we attended an Aussie-rules football match, we visited Phillips Island.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I personally did not have any health issues while abroad. My flatmate, on the other hand, had several ailments and issues while we were there, but she reported back that the health services in Melbourne were relatively efficient and helpful, and she had no qualms with the insurance provided by the IFSA program. There were no special vaccines needed for Australia. In terms of health, I felt completely safe.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Apartment

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• Americans

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• Local Students