Past Review

By (Economics/Finance, Insurace/Finance, University of Hartford) for

ISA Study Abroad in Gold Coast, Australia

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes. I gained friends, knowledge on topics I couldn't study in America, cultural experiences.

Personal Information

The term and year this program took place: Spring 2008

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Kimberley Tibbetts, the advisor for Bond Uni, was extremely helpful and always available by phone and e-mail to answer all questions.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Loved everything about it!

* Food:

I had my own kitchen, so I prepared my own meals.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Travelling the east cost of Australia was made very easy by the central location of the Gold Coast. I loved my trips to the Great Barrier Reef the most.

* 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? No

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? $5000, but I did not have a meal plan.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Budget out your desired trips first so you don't miss out on travelling because you spent too much on less important things.

Language

Language acquisition improvement?

Australia is English-speaking!

Other Program Information

* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Absolutely do it.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Love Sex and Relationships

Course Department: Psyc11-116
Instructor: Jodie
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Very interesting. The instructor made the class environment comfortable and condusive to learning about the topic.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

Australia: From Dreamtime to Dust

Course Department: Aust 11-101
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The material is a little boring, which included tectonic plates and fossils. The instructor, however, is extremely involved in his field and knowledgable. It was interesting to learn how the other side of the world was formed since normally it is only looked at from the prospective of the Western Hemisphere in American classes.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Australian Popular Culture

Course Department: Aust 11-105
Instructor: Emily
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Interesting topics which allowed me to understand the culture of the country much better. Did not enjoy the instructor.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Spanish 1

Course Department: Span 11-101
Instructor: Alecia
Instruction Language: English/ Spanish
Comments: fair grading
Credit Transfer Issues:

Comments

Did you live on campus at Bond or off campus? And which would you suggest?

Steve3 July 12, 2010