Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best Place in the World, NZ. Past Review

By (Geosciences, Option: Environmental Science and Sustainability, The University of Texas at Austin) for

University of Otago, New Zealand: Study Abroad Programme

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Absolutely. I gained a lot of knowledge about who I am and what I am interested in doing in my life.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: Nope
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Very easy workload compared to UT, grading system was much lower and difficult to attain an A, the style of learning was much different than UT.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Well a huge budget cut took out my entire study abroad office, including my advisor. So, yeah that was rather confusing.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

nope.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

nothing.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt very safe there.

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? nope.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Getting a girlfriend.
  • Climbing mountains.
  • Surfing.
* What could be improved?
  • nothing.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Go surfing if you go here and meet locals. Don't end up partying the entire time and getting stuck in Dunedin, waste of money if you do that.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Tectonics
Course Department: Geol 274
Instructor: Norris
Instruction Language: English
Comments: very interesting but the teach was rarely there and had a crappy t.a. teach the course.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

Metamorphics and Mineralization

Course Department: Geol 271
Instructor: Cooper
Instruction Language: English
Comments: very interesting and I learned heaps.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

Energy Management
Course Department: Eman204
Instructor: Bob Lloyd
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Best course I've ever taken. Completely woke me up to the future energy crisis that we face, as it went through every type of energy resource that there is today in much depth.
Credit Transfer Issues: no.