Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Underwhelming but still a good experience Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 07/01/2020 to 11/02/2019 with

University of Otago, New Zealand: Study Abroad Programme

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Worthwhile because it rekindled my love of America by making me experience a different country.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Way to easy and uninterested students

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Helpful but didn't really need much

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Liked my flat and flatmates

* Food:

NA

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

But there isn't much of a cultural difference

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

NA

* Safety:

Super safe

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I chose to go to Otago because I had always wanted to go to New Zealand but I found the country itself was less spectacular than expected and a little underwhelming.

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)

it wasn't too difficult just had to cook your own food and travel less

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 150
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? cook your own food

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

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • skiing/outdoors
  • ease of travel
  • ease of classes
* What could be improved?
  • more demanding classes
  • more integration of American students with kiwis
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That though it is nice it is tiring to live in New Zealand because it is a lot less modern than what I was use to in the USA and Western Europe.

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 Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Maori Studies
Course Department: Maori
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: Very boring and little to no relevance
Credit Transfer Issues: in the process right now
Course Name/Rating:

Global Security
Course Department: Politics
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: Great professor but he was only there for the semester
Credit Transfer Issues: in the process right now
Course Name/Rating:

Creative Wringt
Course Department: Writing
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: Really interesting and a course I normally would not have taken
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Euro History
Course Department: History
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: Not very informative and hard to get a big picture feel of the different time periods because course was split up by categories (ie Politics, Religion, War...) not time.
Credit Transfer Issues: