Fun experience Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/13/2019 to 12/15/2019 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I got a rare experience of not being stressed out all the time. In addition I gained a lot from my indigenous studies course. I also got really involved in the outdoors club and experienced new outdoor activities that I will continue to do forever.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Awesome experience. Really high quality teaching. The only problem was that teachers don't always return grades so it's hard to know how you're doing.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Study abroad staff was really helpful and organized. I always knew what was going on with their constant email updates.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived off campus in an apartment that was amazing.

* Food:

I cooked most of my own meals. Food was a little more expensive in Sydney grocery stores but I was still able to stick to a budget.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There were not a lot of opportunities to integrate with Australian students. I had to make a significant effort to meet local people while meeting other abroad students was much easier. Joining clubs was helpful but the abroad office didn't do much to facilitate integration.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

NA

* Safety:

Overall, I felt very safe. The bush fires were concerning but that was at the end of my stay

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

It's the type of experience I needed at the time

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? cook your own meals

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

  • Apartment
* 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?
  • Flexible classes
  • Outdoor opportunities
  • Beaches
* What could be improved?
  • Transportation was difficult/expensive
  • Dorms were expensive
  • More opportunities to integrate with locals
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It's surprisingly cold in August/September

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

The Marine Environment

Course Department: Science
Instructor: Tracey Rogers
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class was not very challenging but it was super fun and very engaging. I learned a lot and the field trips were great. The teacher was also very knowledgeable and happy to teach. I participated a lot in this course. The grades were based off of quizzes, exams, social media participation and a documentary project
Credit Transfer Issues: TBD
Course Name/Rating:

The Making of Trump's America

Course Department: History
Instructor: Daniel Flemming
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The professor had high expectations for quality of writing. He was also not very engaging. However, the course itself was very interesting as we learned American history from an outside perspective and in the relation to modern events. It also covered more recent history that I was unfamiliar with.
Credit Transfer Issues: TBD
Course Name/Rating:

Indigneous Cultural Heritage and the Environment

Course Department: Nura Gili
Instructor: Reuben Bolt
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This class was one of the most eye-opening courses I have ever taken. It involved a weekend field trip "on country" where we learned about Aboriginal worldviews and relationships with the environment. We then completed a reflection and research based presentation based off of the field trip. In addition, we completed a research paper and annotation reports. Participation was also a major grade. Overall it was a really cool class that was challenging both academically and personally.
Credit Transfer Issues: TBD
Course Name/Rating:

Environmental Economics

Course Department: Economics
Instructor: Shreya Dhall
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course was not too challenging in terms of the grading scale but the professor was very good. She made sure all students understood the material and was very supportive when people needed extra help. I really enjoyed this course and learned a lot, especially with the group project. I participated in this course more than at my home institution because the professor really encouraged it and created a very positive environment. I was assessed on homework, a group presentation/paper, two exams, and participation.
Credit Transfer Issues: TBD