Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

hardest and the best time Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 07/09/2017 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 about myself and I grew stronger as a person

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

not that difficult, but interesting classes

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

very polite and kind people at the international office.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had wonderful flatmates and was close to campus

* Food:

made my own food which was different but I got used to it

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I met many local friends and they shaped most of my experience abroad.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I needed assistance for mental health and the school was not good at all with helping me get help, I did it almost entirely on my own and it was not always easy.

* Safety:

always felt safe

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

It was really difficult but It has made me so much more confident in who I am

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)

I spent more money on food than the budget accounted for

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 120
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? plan out your meals and all the food you need for the week in advance

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

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local 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 people
  • the location
* What could be improved?
  • health services
  • knowledge on how to transfer money
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? how to work foreign bank accounts, how to manage money, that it was really really difficult getting used to a new place even though it was an english speaking country

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

ENGL131
Course Department: English
Instructor: Chris Prentice
Instruction Language: english
Comments: the grading was really hard, and the different teaching styles were confusing and the essays didn't prepare me enough for the final
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
Course Name/Rating:

GEOG219
Course Department: Geography
Instructor: Christina Ergler
Instruction Language: english
Comments: very easy, as I am a geography major here, but it was very interesting and not something that we teach here (health geography)
Credit Transfer Issues: this survey is the only thing that has been difficult in my credit transfer
Course Name/Rating:

GEOL112
Course Department: geology
Instructor: Steven Smith
Instruction Language: english
Comments: challenging and I learned a lot
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

PACI101
Course Department: Pacific societies
Instructor: Jenny Bryant-Tokelau
Instruction Language: english
Comments: very easy class
Credit Transfer Issues: