Past Review
By SkierClimber (Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University) for
ISA Study Abroad in Melbourne, Australia
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Spring 2008 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My philosophy class was awesome!! Classes in general were great. Smart, engaging professors and classmates. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I only wish it were more clear what the housing and internet situation was going to be like- before departure. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
It was a halfway cross between apartment and dorm called the RMIT Village: a renovated hotel room with two bedrooms that shared a single bathroom and kitchen. The kitchen had shelves, drawers, a fridge and stove top. No oven. We also had a sliding retractable wall between the bedrooms and a large window with a small patio. The complex was student housing for half internationals and half native Australians. That half international ended up 45% American but I ended up with a Dutch roommate. Most of my American friends ended up with Australian roommates. <br /><br /> The computer/ internet was VERY finicky. Otherwise, good social life and location etc. |
| * Food: |
Not difficult. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Beautiful, friendly country will hundreds of adventures to be had. My highlights included: -Scuba diving on the great barrier reef outside of Cairns (program organized) -Rock climbing at Mount Arapiles (university outdoors club organized) -Hiking and Camping out at Wilson's Promontory (personally organized) -Hiking and Rock climbing in Tasmania (personally organized) -Outback 4WD, hiking and wildlife viewing adventure in the outback (personally organized) -Winning a digeridoo playing contest in Alice Springs(personally organized) -Beach exploring the Gold Coast (personally organized) -Sight seeing and watching Billy Elliot in Sydney (personally organized) -Sky diving, Rock climbing and hiking in New Zealand (personally organized) -My great Aussie friends! (personally organized) |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Easy to deal with |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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Finances
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* 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) |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Living in the RMIT village is a VERY different experience than in the Residential Colleges |
