Easily the best, most amazing experience of my life. Past Review
By A student (Elementary Education/Psychology, Stonehill College) - abroad from 07/09/2012 to 11/18/2012 with
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Gold Coast - Griffith University
I gained the ability to live on my own and discover things on my own. I had never booked/flown/traveled by myself and I had to do that multiple times.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The educational experience at Griffith University was basically what I was expecting. I was told that it would be a little different than what I was used to, meaning they do not give as many opportunities to be graded. For a majority of my classes I had 2-3 assessments during the entire semester. This made you feel like you had a lot of free time but if you don't gradually work on projects or reading chapters as the semester goes on, you will find yourself being crunched for time towards the end. I never felt overwhelmed and I found the work very manageable. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Helen, the TEAN adviser for the Gold Coast area, was amazing! At the beginning of the semester she gave me her number and said if I ever had any questions that I could just text or call her and she would respond as soon as she could. She was very helpful whenever my roommates and I were lost and confused. She even responded to me when I was up in Cairns and had a question about the airports. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I had the opportunity to live at the beach housing through TEAN, Meriton Serviced Apartments. Before heading to Australia, I was having a very difficult time deciding whether I should live there or at the Village. Now looking back, I do not regret my decision whatsoever. The beach housing was perfect for my lifestyle, had three roommates that I got along great with. The laundry, internet, and gym access were all included in the program fee and your beds were freshly made every week (something I know my roommates and I looked forward to). Also, the beach was only a short walk away and the location of the beach housing (Broadbeach) was perfect because it was not a touristy area and allowed us to meet more locals. |
| * Food: |
Eating out was expensive but when we did, we did not have any complaints. The food around the area was fantastic. Also had the chance to make a trip down to Melbourne, the place Australians say is known for its food and coffee and after making the trip, I completely agree. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
|
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I never got sick or injured so I am unsure about the health care quality. |
| * Safety: |
There was never a time during the semester that I felt threatened or unsafe. Also, the police station was directly across the street from the beach housing. |
| 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 found it very easy to spend my money while I was abroad. My roommate and I went to the grocery store a couple times a week and were usually able to keep our groceries to under $50. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | About $80-$100 on a good week |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Give yourself a budget for each week and do your best to stick to the budget. Pretty much every place you go to, make sure to ask if there is a student discount because there usually is. If you find yourself riding in a taxi a lot, as soon as you get in the car try to give an amount such as "Will you go to Surfers Paradise for $10?", never hurts to try and you'll find some drivers are willing. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I would have to say that I was pretty well informed and any questions that I had going into it were always answered. |
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 AdventurerThe 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: |
Indigenous Art, Protocols, and Practices |
| Course Department: | |
| Instructor: | Bianca Beetson |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | I enjoyed taking this class because it taught me a lot of the history about Australia and the Indigenous people. I didn't know any information about Aborigines until I took this course and I found the instructor very informational as well as the tutors. The assessments included a movie review, a group project, a personal write-up, and a midterm. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
