I Need to Go Back to Australia! Past Review
By Melanie S (Environmental Studies, Sociology, Tulane University) for
University of Sydney: Sydney - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
This was the most amazing experience of my life thus far and as a result, I plan to move to Australia at some point in my life.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
teaching methods are much better - big lecture classes for general information and a small weekly tutorial class for discussions. instead of textbooks or having to print millions of articles online, you buy a "reader" with all the required readings in one convenient binder. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
gave extensive information about the campus, destination spots, spring break trips, on campus facilities/services, etc. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
tulane must consider setting up some arrangement to allow students to live with or live atleast in the same building as australians. some sort of arrangement to allow students to live in better locations suitable to truly integrating into the australian lifestyle. |
| * Food: |
expensive, bought groceries, rarely ate out, although the food when we did go out was delicious. thai food is really cheap and great. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
one fish two fish spring break trip was most amazing spring break i have ever had. the tour guides are amazing. do everything possible - i was on an extreme budget which was really rough because traveling in/out of australia is very expensive. but if you can afford it, go everywhere possible. go to melbourne and the great ocean road. go allt he way up the east coast. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
very safe, unlike new orleans. it was such a great city in that aspect. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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? | was only given 100 dollars by my parents each week - this was extremely limiting and very hard to manage. you will honestly need a lot of money in australia for transportation, food and social activities. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | transportation - but this could have been avoided if tulane had provided housing in locations nearby to beaches - main transportation costs. cabs to go out at night - charged based on time, not distance - its a ripoff! alcohol - much more expensive groceries are reasonable/comparable even though its expensive though - it is soooo worth it! |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Fluent |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | one who enjoys a carefree way of life, a less competitive way of life/education/work, one who enjoys the sarcasm and humor of australians, who loves beaches, who doesnt get bothered by inconveniences that may be found in america, who doesnt care about the higher prices - because it is a higher standard of living! |
