Trip to Australia: No Worries, Mate. Past Review
By Kelly B (Commercial art, Ashland University) for
Bond University: Gold Coast - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I gained a lot of experience with a completely different culture. Different food and lifestyles in general. I actually preferred te Aussie way of living to American. It just seemed more of an emphasis of being active and outdoors and it was wonderful.
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Australian workload and education in general is heavier than that of the United States. With their education, most students go year round, therefore recieving a degree faster than a regular four year American university. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
My program had the strength of a lot of hands on experience such as labs and forest walking. This was an effective way for all the students to completely catch on to the lessons. No real weaknesses, the program was extremely well set up. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We also lived in Eco-lodges which really helped us to settle into the environment. The only thing I bought to settle in was laundry detergent. Everything else was provided. |
| * Food: |
Excellent food, always provided. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Got to meet actual students at Bond University and were taught the game of Australian Rules Football which was a blast. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
No issues with health or safety. Very safe overall and the biggest injuries were coral burns which were treated with the first aid kit. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This program is appropriate for any student. We had some younger, some older. Most science majors but some different ones like me and we all fit in just fine. I'd highly reccomend this, and it has just spurred a travelling bug in me. I'd love to go back and especially explore other places because it was so great. |
