Best decision I ever made! Past Review
By Josh I (Marketing, Thomas College) - abroad from 01/14/2019 to 04/19/2019 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Gold Coast - Bond University
I learned so many life lessons while abroad. My time abroad was 100% worthwhile. Traveling across the world alone by yourself really gives you a huge confidence and is just an amazing experience.
Review Photos
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. |
TEAN was amazing in everything they did from the beginning of the study abroad process throughout the end they were there to help me with any questions or concerns I had and really made the process smooth and easy. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
On site administration was a huge help from the beginning. They helped us make sure where we needed to go when we arrived on campus to giving everyone a personal tour of the campus. The TEAN staff member on campus was really helpful with any questions and concerns I had and helps promote programs and events going on around the area to really engage you in the culture |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I was very satisfied with my living arrangements. I was living in what they call A block and B block which were on campus singles for students. The singles are very nice and up to date with a nice common area and they even come in every other week and clean up your room if you want. I was satisfied with living on campus as you really get to meet more people and make new friends. |
| * Food: |
The food on campus was amazing, it is unlike what I was used to at school back in the states as we get a buffet option back home. But on campus you get to choose between three different menus of what to order with a variety of options, as well as a place to order your own sandwich/wrap. On campus there is also other small options to grab a quick snack before class or just for a study break. Overall I was very pleased with the food options throughout the semester |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt pretty integrated with the local culture. Before arriving on campus TEAN has their own orientation in a different location with other students in the program. They prepared us very well with informing us of some cultural aspects that we might expect when arriving and what to get used to for how Australians speak which was a lot of slang and abbreviations. Everyone on campus was very friendly and outgoing from the local students to other study abroad students i felt very integrated and made a bunch of new friends to last a lifetime. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I didn't have an experience with healthcare while abroad but I knew were to find the local healthcare facility and wouldn't have hesitated in asking a TEAN member for help if needed. |
| * Safety: |
The overall safety in the Gold Coast wasn't an issue for me at all. Everyone in the Gold Coast is very friendly and I felt very comfortable going about the city alone or with friends no matter the time of day. There was no time throughout my study abroad experience that I felt unsafe in the Gold Coast. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
If I had to do it all over again I would choose TEAN in a heartbeat. Looking back at my experience compared to other programs TEAN is definitely one step ahead of everyone else. |
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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $75-$80 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I would recommend saving your money for any big trips you might take as those will be pretty expensive and you will want to save for experiences you might not have the opportunity to have back home. Other then that I would just suggest spending your money wisely and not waste it on things that you can have access to do back home. |
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 I knew to bring more money as things are expensive in Australia. |
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. |
