New Zealand: Adventure from start to finish Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload and grading scale was much more forgiving that what I was used to, but it was still difficult adjusting to the way assignments were graded. Yes anything above a 75% was an A, but the kind of work that would easily get an A in the US got torn apart by the professors. So even though the scale was wide, you had to make sure your papers were really clean to get the kind of grade you wanted. For all my classes, the grade was based on a couple papers and a final essay exam.

On-site administration of your program

TEAN people were always available and were quick with answers whenever questions came up. It seemed like they knew everything when it came to New Zealand. And the program itself was great. There were just the right amount of activities and it was small enough that you knew everyone else and they knew you.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

TEAN arranged all the housing so I didn't have to pay rent each month or worry about a thing. I lived in a house just a 5 minute walk from campus and a 15 minute walk from downtown. It had a beautiful bay window that overlooked the harbor and the mountains. We were a mixture of international students and a kiwi student. I felt safer where I lived than I do in my small town in the US. The house had washer/dryer, sheets, pillows, kitchen stuff. All I had to get were some shower things, a towel, and food to get settled in.

I didn't eat on campus, but there was a Countdown which delivered groceries to our house so we didn't have to carry them up the hill. We cooked the majority of our meals, but were just a short walk away from cafes and restaurants. On campus, there were plenty of places that served lunch, snacks, and coffee if you got hungry between classes.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The trip to Fiji at the beginning was amazing. It was great to get to know everyone first, and to just relax on the beautiful beaches before heading to New Zealand. Once there, the orientation in Auckland was a blast. We went whitewater rafting and zorbing, visited the Polynesian spa, went on a trip to the beautiful beach and rainforest east of Auckland, saw a haka and Maori artifacts at the museum, and had plenty of time to explore the restaurants and nightlife of Auckland.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Wellington was incredibly safe and the on-campus clinic was very accessible. When I got bronchitis, I was able to call and immediately get an appointment with a doctor and they gave me my prescriptions on the spot. The program's insurance took care of it all and I didn't pay a thing.

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

Select all that apply

• Other

Select all that apply

• Other

• Fiji/orientation trips
• Staff support
• Housing arranged for you

• Offer a spring break trip