Mixed bag of experiences Past Review
By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/21/2016 to 06/23/2016 with
University of Otago, New Zealand: Study Abroad Programme
I got to experience some incredible hiking and places in New Zealand, as well as learn how to navigate a strange and at times confusing academic system.
Personal Information
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. |
Your classes are as rigorous as you choose. As I was in two 300 level math and biology courses, I found them fairly rigorous. However, my 100 and 200 level Maori and history courses were fairly easy. Additionally, my grades all counted into my GPA and were not pass/fail. Most colleges allow their students to take their abroad courses pass/fail. As there can be such a difference in academic systems, I wish Middlebury would do this as well. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
As a direct enrolled student, there was very little/no support from Middlebury College. I found this to be fairly disappointing. If I could do it again, I would come with a program. And I would recommend that if Middlebury is going to provide no support, then they should recommend their students go through a program as well. |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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* Food: |
You are cooking for yourself. So food is as good as you are a cook. |
* 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? |
New Zealand and University of Otago Student Health is great. |
* Safety: |
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If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
If I did it again, I would go with a program and not direct enroll. |
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) |
Spent on average $100 a week on food/personal expenses. More when traveling. |
Language
* Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
* 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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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? |
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* What could be improved? |
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* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had come with a program. I wish I knew that I would be the only person of my group of friends who would be taking courses for actual grades due to Middlebury's draconian credit transfer system. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
Individual Course Reviews
Course Name/Rating: |
Numerical Methods |
Course Department: | Mathematics |
Instructor: | |
Instruction Language: | |
Comments: | A good and challenging course. The most similar to a liberal arts course I took during my time at Otago |
Credit Transfer Issues: |
Course Name/Rating: |
Introduction to Conversational Maori |
Course Department: | Maori |
Instructor: | |
Instruction Language: | |
Comments: | Very easy and no final exam |
Credit Transfer Issues: |
Course Name/Rating: |
Advanced Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics |
Course Department: | Biochemistry |
Instructor: | |
Instruction Language: | |
Comments: | Very challenging, 12 hours of lab a week for the second half of the course. |
Credit Transfer Issues: |
Course Name/Rating: |
History of Crime, Shame, and Scandal in New Zealand |
Course Department: | History |
Instructor: | |
Instruction Language: | |
Comments: | Good and interesting course, fairly easy compared to Middlebury history courses |
Credit Transfer Issues: |