Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Life-changing Past Review

By (Valdosta State University) - abroad from 07/16/2016 to 09/26/2016 with

The Intern Group: Melbourne Internship Placement Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained so much life experience that I'm forever grateful for. This program allowed me to be independent but also gave me the comfort of knowing there were coordinators there to help me with anything I needed. Not to mention, I gained friendships that will last a lifetime. I believe that the accommodation and included events really brought us all together and helped us enjoy our experience even more. And of course the internship itself was great experience for me. In the end, I felt very comfortable and loved day to day life.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I really loved that all of the interns were in the same accommodation. It personally made me feel more comfortable and I believe we quickly all became friends because of it. However, it would have been more convenient to be closer to the city.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had a healthcare experience, but I'm sure it would have been satisfactory!

* Safety:

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

The Intern Group's Melbourne program was life-changing for me. The city itself is wonderful, it's huge but at the same time has a small town feel once you get used to it. The staff and coordinators were awesome to work with and made it an easy transition.

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)

It honestly depends on how much you eat out and go out. I easily spent 30 dollars a day just because I rarely cooked. Plus, the nightlife can get expensive if you go out 2 -3 times a week.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around 200 dollars sometimes more
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? My advice would be to shop at the local grocery store and cook 4-5 times a week. And drinking water saves quite a bit of money instead of buying soft drinks. Also, I realized there are a lot of places that don't charge cover if your interested in clubs/bars.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

  • Other
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?
  • Gaining experience living in a bigger city
  • Being able to meet people from all over the world
  • The coordinators help during the process was very helpfuk and made it easier to transition into
* What could be improved?
  • The internship company for me could have been better suited for my needs. I think my situation was different than others but I would have liked to gain more experience in my chosen field.
  • I wish the accommodation could've been closer to the CBD
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have known that to be able to live comfortably, you most of the time need more than 200$ a week.

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 Urbanite
A 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.