Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Excellent Past Review

By (Environmental Policy, Middlebury College) - abroad from 07/21/2012 to 11/24/2012 with

CIEE: Perth - Biology + Ecology Field Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to relax and work at the same time, be more generous, and all about Australian culture.

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.

There was not nearly as much work as in the U.S., it was easy to do well but hard to get an A.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* 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

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)

Perth was extremely expensive

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 for yourself, find flights to travel early

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Playing on the Frisbee team
  • Traveling in Australia, New Zealand, and Bali
  • All of the people
* What could be improved?
  • The classes were frustrating, especially teachers were actively unhelpful
  • Some of the costs of living could be subsidized
  • There could be more activities to integrate exchange students with australians
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How expensive it was to live in Perth

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:

Technologies for Sustainable Development
Course Department: Environmental Science
Instructor: Martin Anda
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Assessments were hard and instructions were very unclear.
Credit Transfer Issues: