The Trip of a Lifetime Past Review
By Alex N (Psychology, Champlain College) - abroad from 02/06/2015 to 06/18/2015 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Dunedin - University of Otago
I learned what it was like to life in a different culture and to step out of my comfort zone. I was almost never idle which led me to be the happiest I have been in a long time.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Otago is regarded as one of the best psychology schools in the world. Professors incorporated their own research in the curriculum so they were able to answer any questions students had. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
TEAN has city correspondents that stay involved with students all semester by organizing events and helping however they can. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Most students live in six person flats with other international students and at least one Kiwi host. Flats are either standalone houses or part of a condo complex. Bedrooms were pretty good sized with dressers, desks and full sized beds. |
| * Food: |
I never had any of the University food but there were plenty of grocery stores within walking distance. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Kiwis were awesome. I felt super included in their culture both inside and outside the city. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
International health insurance was garbage and copays remained fairly high. Coverage for sexual health (ie. one of the most prevalently used services on college campuses) was severely lacking. Booking to get in for an appointment was generally days or a week out. |
| * Safety: |
University Public Safety/Police were always very accessible and friendly. They were lenient when they needed to be and strict when they needed to be. |
| 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 spent way more money that I expected. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 150 USD/Week |
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? | I wish someone had told me that I was about to have the best time of my life |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
