Worth coming back to! January 26, 2023

By (Biology + Art History, Wellesley College) - abroad from 07/11/2022 to 11/14/2022 with

The University of Auckland: Auckland - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a new sense of independence and many friends. In terms of academics, I believe I have also improved upon my scientific writing skills.

Review Photos

The University of Auckland: Auckland - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo The University of Auckland: Auckland - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo The University of Auckland: Auckland - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was manageable and enough to foster learning. Something I liked was that all the lectures were available to review as recordings, which enhanced the educational experience.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They had many activities available for international students and made us feel welcome.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed at Te Tirohanga. It was a generally clean and spacious area with many common spaces.

* Food:

Rating N/A, please ignore the number of stars. The university did not provide food, I was in a self catered residence. Most of the other residences are also self catered, but provide kitchen facilities. However, it was in the city center, so food was easily accessible from outside sources.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The university offered integration through clubs and a few events. The living accommodations and central location in the city also allowed for successful social immersion.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The university provides for a local health insurance, which is fully covered for all healthcare needs. They also provided me with a list of free clinics in case I ran into a problem. There were no prevalent health issues in my host country, and I did not have any experiences in this area.

* Safety:

I felt completely safe. The access to the residential areas and university buildings was very well regulated.

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

I would choose more marine science focused classes, most of which were not available at time of my enrollment. But I would definitely choose this university again because I loved the place and its people.

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* 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? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • My peers
  • The subject matter (especially in labs)
  • City life
* What could be improved?
  • Course selection process was quite confusing.
  • There was no additional facilitation for exchange students to navigate club membership process.
  • Directions to campus buildings
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? -What the meaning of "self catered residence" would be -Not to pack so much because shipping is extremely expensive -You need a car to access the natural activities

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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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.