The Australian landscape is so pristine and beautiful, I changed my major Past Review
By Grace M (Biology/Environmental Policy, The College of William and Mary) for
University of Adelaide: Adelaide - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I definitely think this program was worthwhile- it was more of a travel/cultural experience than an academic one, though. I think that living in Australia made me more aware of how weird the United States is in comparison to other developed countries, especially in how we don't take care of our citizens as well as Australia does! Also, after seeing how pristine and beautiful the Australian landscape is, I realized I didn't want to be a healthcare worker after all, and decided to be an Environmental Policy major instead- so I suppose in that sense, it did affect my academic decisions!
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA Australia |
| The term and year this program took place: | Fall 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Academically it was easier than William and Mary, and the professors weren't quite as interested in teaching undergrads. That being said, it's a great place to go if you're looking to escape the grind of W&M! (Also the internet sucks in the entire country of Australia, so it's not necessarily a reflection on the school) |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I didn't have too many dealings with them, but they were generally prompt in responding to emails. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived at Lincoln College, a residential college (privately run dorm).It was more expensive than a W&M dorm, but the people living there were really friendly and helpful, and it was a great way to meet actual Australians! The neighborhood of North Adelaide is a perfect location- very close to campus, pretty parks, close to food and nightlife. Overall a great experience! |
| * Food: |
Meh... food wasn't so good. But then again, William and Mary's food isn't much better! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Healthcare is pretty easily accessible in Australia, their health system is less convoluted (of course!) It's also a very safe country in general- the bad neighborhoods in cities tend to be in the outskirts, rather |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I wish I had realized that the visa fee for getting into Australia is $400! Other than that, the cost of living in Adelaide is really quite reasonable. When traveling, be sure to book flights in advance. Also, consider all of your travel options, rather than just the easiest tour package- guided tours can be really expensive! |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This program is great for if you want to take a break from a difficult courseload at W&M- there's not too much academic pressure, and the social scene is awesome. It's sort of your basic, no-frills exchange experience- you will have to plan your own housing/meals/extracurriculars/travel, but the nice thing is you get a lot of flexibility in what you want out of this experience. Overall a fun and affordable study abroad option! |
