The best time in my life to date! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes themselves were amazing - interesting material, passionate lecturers. The biggest challenge for me was that we were only give one or two major assignments over the entire semester, so it was impossible to figure out how to improve in order to do well in the class. My other comment would be that some of the professors were not at all clear on their expectations, and would proceed to grade very harshly. The Australian academic system seems to be based on self-teaching; the lecturers are more like guides than teachers.

On-site administration of your program

I attended an orientation ceremony where the international help team were very amiable and gave a lot of good information.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved the fact that we each had our own rooms, we didn't have roommates. I lived in Uni Hall, which was very lively and the R.A.'s were constantly organizing events. However, I would highly recommend for anyone who wants the Uni Hall experience, but with a lot less noise (if they're serious about studying) to go to the Uni Hall townhouses.

If you didn't have special dietary requirements, it was your basic college food. It was very difficult (as a vegetarian) to make sure I got all of my nutrition. Some days (as the veggie option) it would just be pasta with peppers. This was one of the biggest cons to living in Uni Hall, where there is a kitchen, but it wasn't practical to use. I would strongly recommend if someone had special dietary requirements to cook your own food. There is a Woolworth's (Aussie grocery store) on campus or the mall is a 10 minute bus ride away. Be sure to take into account the fact that you would definitely need your own mini-fridge in your dorm room to keep leftovers, and you had to buy the fridge yourself PLUS pay a fee for hooking it up in your room ($150+). There is a fridge in the downstairs kitchen, but I wouldn't trust some wandering party-goer to leave it alone!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I think the best way to integrate yourself into the local culture would be to become involved with the international student association. They were always putting on different events; e.g. Aborigines speakers, authentic Aussie lunches, drum circles, etc. Unfortunately I did not get involved with the ISA. The other Australian students didn't seem too interested in showing the internationals around; they'd seen everything before, plus they had their own friend groups. I found I made more friends amongst the international American students. We ended up traveling together.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The health care system was amazing. You would make an appoint via email or phone (most of the time there wouldn't be an available time in the day, but usually you can get one within the week). The clinic, or general practitioner as it's called, was right on campus. When you apply to go to JCU, you need to sign up for an OSHC, which is basically international student insurance in Australia. I always got in to see the doctor less than 10 minutes after my appointment time. Just a warning, but I received a letter from the insurance company 3 months after my appointment stating they needed the doctor to fill out a medical certificate. I had to make another appointment with him just to do this. Depending on why you went to the doctor, you can get 100% coverage of your bill.

Townsville was fairly safe. As long as you stick to general common sense - don't leave your valuables lying around, lock your bedroom door while your not in there, be aware of your surroundings, etc.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Honestly, when it comes to budgeting, it entirely depends on your personal budget and what you're planning on doing while abroad. For example, traveling is VERY expensive. Make sure you strictly budget for things like that, and make sure you have an emergency fund as well. I found there were a lot of unexpected expenses that occur while traveling. If you like to party, budget for drinks, etc. However, if you are only attending JCU to strictly study, and you have a meal plan, you could easily live off of $25/week. Always take into account that you have to pay for the bus, even though you have a student discount.

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• Dorm

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• The lectures
• The location
• The things to do

• The dining hall
• Conveying academic expectations

The Avid Adventurer