Past Review
By brittantley (Electrical And Computer Engineering, Rice University) for
University of Melbourne: Melbourne - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Summer 2007 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Small 2 bedroom apt in ~12 story building occupied mainly by students. Me plus 3 roommates. Very small bathroom and very minimal kitchen. Sometimes felt a little cramped but it was sufficient. Very centrally located in heart of downtown and a 15 min walk/10 min tram ride to campus. <br /><br /> Very nice location but only moderate housing environment. Apartment was small. |
| * Food: |
Food was expensive compared to what I was used to in Houston. Choices of late night food were limited. Australian food is pretty similar to English or American food. There was a lot of Asian food as well. |
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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: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Most of my money went towards alcohol. It was very expensive there. The average 6 pack of beer cost around $10. Going out to clubs or bars was even more expensive. As far as food expenses, you can try to cut down by shopping a lot at the grocery store, but the apartment's kitchen is pretty insufficient. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Consider costs of souvenirs or presents you would like to bring home. If you plan on drinking, it is a pretty large expense. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes 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? | Do the Outback trip as opposed to the Sydney trip or internship. Most people didn't enjoy their internships and gained little from them. You can visit Sydney during one of your vacation periods, and you won't be able to replicate the Outback trip on a short vacation. If possible, you should visit Cairns as well. It is a beautiful beach town and you can scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef! |
