Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Beautiful places and fun people Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 07/10/2017 to 11/11/2017 with

University of Otago, New Zealand: Study Abroad Programme

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about a new place and new people and made great friends. Yes.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

There is no food program.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

I loved New Zealand and the freedom that came with directly enrolling.

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)

This really depends on how much you want to spend on food/trips. Could be easy if you wanted.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $150-200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Be smart about what food you buy/how much you eat out

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

  • Other
* 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?
  • People
  • Beautiful setting
  • Relaxing
* What could be improved?
  • Nothing comes to mind
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It is hard to adjust at first, but that wares off quickly.

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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Romantic Literature
Course Department: English
Instructor: Karen Mclean
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I enjoyed the class and its content, but I found the exam (which was a large part of the final grade) to be much more difficult than the previous assignments in the class.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

The Essay: Creative Non-Fiction
Course Department: English
Instructor: Paul Tankard
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The course had interesting content but the over style of teaching was slightly unorganized.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

New Zealand Literature
Course Department: English
Instructor: Simone Drichel
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I did not enjoy the lecture aspect of this class, but did enoy most of the required readings.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Modernism: Joyce
Course Department: English
Instructor: Peter Kuch
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The class was difficult - you must be prepared to devote time to the reading if you want to fully understand lectures. However, the course was not graded difficult.
Credit Transfer Issues: No