The Aussie Life is Best Past Review

By (University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 02/22/2016 to 06/24/2016 with

Griffith University: Brisbane - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The experience was definitely a worthwhile endeavor or, especially illy from someone who had never been abroad before. I learned a lot about myself while abroad, mostly due in part as I spent a month travelling on my own. The uni had some great classes I took that I wouldn't find here and that was a plus as they were so interesting in subject matter.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

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:

Not as much variety as I was expecting.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I lived in a first year dorm so it was really easy to integrate into both the Australian uni life but also the Australian culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Super straight forward health care and when I had to use it, the Healthcare system was so much smoother of a process than it is over here, which I didn't expect being a student foreigner.

* Safety:

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

The ease of the whole experience is definitely a factor I was hoping for but wasn't sure I would get, but since I did this program was incredible.

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)

It is marginally more expense to live over there which ended up adding up in the things I do normally.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Take advantage of the exchange rates but also understand that if it's in your favor, it doesn't add up to that much.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • 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? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Living arrangement
  • Ability to travel
  • Opportunity for new experiences
* What could be improved?
  • Communication between both unis and the student
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How the Australian uni system is set up, there were definitely times I fell behind a bit in classes because the instructors were expecting something completely different to what I was used to.

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:

Water Pollution Chemistry

Course Department: Environment
Instructor: Darryl Hawker
Instruction Language: English
Comments: It was a bit challenging but the material was so interesting and the professor gave so many demonsrrations; plus the lab portion was great too.
Credit Transfer Issues: None at all.