Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

New Friends and Beautiful Sights in the Opposite of Middlebury Past Review

By (The University of Queensland) - abroad from 02/18/2019 to 06/22/2019 with

The University of Queensland: Brisbane - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I saw some incredibly beautiful things, and gained the independence of living in a city, navigating public transportation and the bureacracy of a large institution, and was able to step back from the intensity of academic life at Middlebury.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

UQ is a large research university, and is strikingly different from Middlebury in terms of class sizes and expectations, but I had generally good professors and engaged peers.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I went to St. John's college, which was a fun insight into Australian life.

* Food:

The dining hall at John's reminded me of how lucky we are at Middlebury, but the food was fine.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I made some very close Australian friends through orientation and soccer, but the kids my age at the college made little effort to reach out to the international students.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I never felt unsafe in Brisbane.

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

I had a wonderful time. While the older students who were my age had already formed their social groups, the college provided a great support system and I made some great new friends.

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? 50 dollars Australian
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Book your trips early, and go hiking and exploring rather than paying for tours.

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

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

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • International Students
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?
  • The freedom to travel
  • The people
  • The break from Middlebury
* What could be improved?
  • More effort from the Australians to be social
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That it would go by really fast, and that it would be so important to maintain a balance between rest and exploration.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.