Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An adventure of a lifetime! Past Review

By (Oklahoma State University - Stillwater) - abroad from 03/01/2016 to 07/02/2016 with

University of South Australia: Adelaide - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Studying abroad was definitely worthwhile and if I went back in time I would still choose to study abroad. Since I have been here I have expanded my horizons, grown in many ways, and learned more about myself then I could have imagined.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were not very challenging and you could easily take 4 courses while studying abroad here. I only took 3 and I travelled and had a bunch of free time. Plus they transfer as 4 credits per course

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They had an advisor for exchange students but you had to ask around to know who she was. Once you did, her receptionist didn't understand what you wanted and she was never in her office.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My housing was not arranged through the school however I loved our housing location and set up.

* Food:

The food in Australia is good however it is a bit expensive.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt integrated within the culture however that was because I went about it on my own not through my university.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any healthcare issues however they never sent me my health card like they said they would.

* Safety:

Nine times out of ten I felt safe being in Australia

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I would choose the same program because I want to go into event management however I would have changed one of my classes to a different class that is still in the same program if I could go back in time.

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)

I'm really good at budgeting so staying on a budget is not hard for me. However I will say that food and traveling is very expensive in Australia.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent about $30 at the grocery store everyweek. I would usually eat out about once a week as well totallying about $15.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Go to the Market to buy your fruit and vegetables it is much cheaper that way. When traveling, always stay in the cheapest hostel (they're all pretty safe) and look into taking buses because they can be cheaper then flying.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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?
  • My local friends I made
* What could be improved?
  • I would make attendance mandatory.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would have bought a go pro before coming to Australia. As far as school goes, I wish I would have taken 4 courses instead of 3

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 Adventurer
The 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.