Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An incredible and culturally enriching experience! Past Review

By (University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 02/22/2016 to 06/17/2016 with

Deakin University - Warrnambool: Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My experience abroad definitely made me more independent, having to cook for myself and travel internationally myself, which are things that I wasn't really used to before I left. I also was able to explore new places and have amazing experiences while traveling Australia, for example, cage diving with great white sharks in Port Lincoln. Overall, my experience abroad was definitely worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The professors here generally just read off their powerpoint presentations instead of interacting more with their students, so I felt like I didn't learn as much as I could have in this program. However, the labs and field trips were more hands on, which I did enjoy.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

It would have been nice to live with more Australian students, as I lived with mostly other American study abroad students. Also, the actual living arrangements were older, and we had to call multiple times for maintenance on various things throughout the house. However, I did like that I had my own room, and that there was a common room downstairs where I could hang out with my roommates.

* Food:

The University has it's students make their own food instead of providing them with a dining hall. However, the on-campus cafe had decent food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any experience with health care on campus, but it was relatively easy to obtain health insurance for this program.

* Safety:

The University had security guards stationed in certain areas on campus, and also had security guards driving around campus throughout the day.

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

Although the school itself wasn't necessarily what I expected, Warrnambool was a cool town with interesting people and a close proximity to the beach, which I enjoyed. I also made a lot of new friends, both Australian and American, through this program and had a good time travelling Australia with them.

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)

Due to the program requiring that students self cater, I found myself going to the store to buy food a few times a week. I also had to pay for a bus ticket each time I went to the store.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Approximately $150

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? Exchange

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
  • 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?
  • The location
  • The students
* What could be improved?
  • The administration
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I would have wanted to know more about my living situation, for example, what was and wasn't provided for me in my room and in the communal kitchen. I also would have liked to have a better description of the classes I was taking and what I was going to be doing throughout the semester.

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.