Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Finding Independece and Adventure Past Review

By (Biology, General., St. Mary's College of Maryland) - abroad from 07/19/2013 to 11/23/2013 with

James Cook University - Townsville: Townsville - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a lot of experience being independent. I was responsible for paying rent, making my own food, planning trips, and setting up things like phone service and bank accounts. All of these are incredibly valuable skills I will continue to use

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were no where near as intensive or hard as those at St.Mary's but I found them to be very interesting and enjoyable to take

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The international office at JCU was very friendly and welcoming

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived off campus. It was a bit difficult to find a place to live and there was some misunderstanding with the landlords but the accommodations were nice.

* Food:

I made my own food. The food on campus had good days and bad days

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I made friends with many students at the University and in Townsville and by the end the city felt like home to me

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

No experience

* Safety:

Overall I felt fairly safe biking to and from campus and going down to the city. I would recommend always having a friend with you especially when you go to the city on weekend nights and to use common sense.

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)

I was given by my parents the money it would have cost for room and board at St.Mary's for a semester to use while abroad. I spent about $150 a week for room/ food and an additional 25-50 on expense for travel or shopping

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $175
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you are buying your own food, buy the store brand cause it saves a lot of money. Keep in mind what you want to use your money for, whether its travel, food, or shopping and budget accordingly.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Traveling
  • Classes
  • Scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef
* What could be improved?
  • Housing
  • Information about the area
  • Orientation
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It is very hard to find realtors that will rent to you. Either live on campus or live in a share house room

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.