Incredible Australian Adventures Past Review

By (Arts, Middlebury College) - abroad from 03/02/2015 to 06/05/2015 with

The University of New South Wales: Sydney - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about the local culture and Australia in general. Also gained the confidence to travel alone and to work through uncomfortable/unfamiliar situations. Very worth it, both the incredible experiences and the more difficult ones.

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.

Manageable workload, but more than I had expected.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very independent, but international office was helpful when needed.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Great dorm, on campus, but a little expensive.

* Food:

dining hall options for some dorms, but in my dorm I had to make my own meals.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

did not have any experience with healthcare

* Safety:

felt very safe in the city and on campus.

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

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)

expensive city, and even more expensive if living in a dorm with no meal plan

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? between $150 and 200 per week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Limit yourself to a few meals out per week, and try to cook at home.

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? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Small tutorials
  • Campus Location
* What could be improved?
  • Amount of work for study abroad students
  • More basic info at the beginning of the semester
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? More about the weather and what to bring/ what not to bring. Also how much work each course required.

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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Indigenous Australia

Course Department: Nura Gili Indigenous Programs
Instructor: Sarah Keech
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Concepts could be unfamiliar to students who had never experienced a course in Indigenous studies before. Lecture was much larger than a typical lecture at Middlebury, but tutorials provided opportunity for more discussion and participation. Assessed based on participation, and a few papers.
Credit Transfer Issues: