Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A great experience in a foreign yet familiar country Past Review

By (Marine Sciences, 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?
I gained a lot of confidence in managing my own affairs independently (things like finances, planning travel, cooking for myself, etc.)

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.

* 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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Between $35 to $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy store brand food, plan out your meals before grocery shopping to avoid wandering aimlessly.

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
  • Apartment
* 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?
  • Small class sizes
  • Beach welcome program
  • Lots of field work
* What could be improved?
  • Some of us didn't receive health insurance cards
  • The housing we were in was fairly isolated from the rest of campus
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I would have liked to know a little more about how the grading scales worked in Australia. Instead of a standard 10 point grade scale for letter grades they used word grades like "Distinction" and "High Distinction" to represent how well the assignment was done.

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.