The Scenic Road Past Review

By (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 02/28/2017 to 07/06/2017 with

Victoria University of Wellington: Wellington - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was worthwhile. I got to reflect a lot on my experiences in Texas and became more proud of my home as a whole. I did a lot of solo travel which I learned that I really prefer to anything else.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Making the appointment, getting to the health center, and the overall experience was super easy, but it was significantly more expensive.

* Safety:

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

It's just too expensive. I could have had the same experiences exploring nature and integrating into another culture for much, much cheaper in another country.

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)

The residence hall meal plan is $85 NZD a month which doesn't leave a lot of room for going out to eat/going out at night. Meals are $10-$15 NZD at a cheap place and drinks start at $8 NZD.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $125 USD
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? There's oodles of places to eat, but try to cook at home as much as possible. Fruit and Vege markets are a must as the grocery prices are ridiculous when it comes to fruits/veges.

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? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Getting to go to NZ
* What could be improved?
  • More preparation on local customs
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I knew it was expensive, but it would have been nice to know how much a week it would cost.