Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Australian Adventures Past Review

By (University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 02/12/2017 to 06/18/2017 with

The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Gold Coast - Griffith University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to be more grateful for what i have and to be grateful for this experience

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.

Classes are structured very differently in AUS, you have few assignments but they count for a large percentage of your grade, for example, one essay might be 40% of you final grade.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Super helpful people, provided us with meetups and free coffee and treats, set up "free" events.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I got to live in Peppers Broadbeach, which is a 2 min walk to the beach, and a short walk to the bus/tram station. The hotel is beautiful, definitely the nicest I've ever stayed in.

* Food:

Food is very similar it the US, although there are a few differences

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Locals are everywhere and are very easy going and easy to talk to.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any health issues while abroad

* Safety:

I always felt safe, and i was always with a friend but nothing super sketchy ever happened.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I was paired with roommates who were wonderful and we did everything together, TEAN provided us with a lot of helpful information and were always willing to help with anything we needed.

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)

pretty easily

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $60
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy groceries and cook your own meals, it saves a lot of money

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* 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?
  • The location
  • Orientation activities
* What could be improved?
  • Smaller orientations
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The differences in the education systems

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.