38 reviews
4.13 / 5 based on 38 reviews
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11
Kristie M
Overall
I wish I had known...
Just that when it comes to prerequisites, coursework taken in America does not necessarily qualify you for a course in Australia. When qualifying oneself for a course in Australia, special attention needs to be paid to the topics studied.
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In my opinion:
I loved it but I'm not sure everybody would.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
The Australian National University manages the transition abroad for international students extremely well. The admiinistrators and instructors were all very open, supportive and helpful. Living abroad for the first time, I couldn't have asked for an easier transition or a better experience!
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Enjoy yourself! Take challenging coursework you're qualified for. You may be taking full responsibility for yourself, perhaps for the first time, and there will be a number of cultural and lifestyle adjustments that you'll have to make. Leave time to travel and to enjoy the country. I would recommend taking a backpacking trip (like the Oz Experience) and spending some time on a cattle or sheep station to experience the outback. Dive the reef. Carve your own diggery-doo. Go sapphire mining. Learn to surf in Byron Bay. Visit Nimbin. Speak modestly about life in America and don't talk about yourself too much. Invest more of your time learning about others and their cultures.
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2
Kristie M
Academic
Course recommendations
American students studying in Australia should pay particular attention to the prerequisites for courses in mathematics, economics and statistics. Generally speaking, when Australian students graduate from college (high school) or take first year coursework at university they have a greater understanding of mathematics. To explain, Statistics I in Australia will cover a broader range of topics than Statistics I in America. The Australian Statistics I course may cover topics in American Statistics I and II. Thus when the Australian student completes his Stats I course, he has completed a higher level of understanding. Part of the reason for this, is that Australian university programs of study take three years to complete (British system) while American university programs require four. Keep this in mind when selecting your coursework. The coursework in Australia is a bit more demanding and you will be required to learn more in a shorter amount of time. Imagine having to play "catch up" with your classmates too. Be careful not to get too ambitious. I tried to take a course in Strategic Thinking which was only offered to MBA students at my home institution. I almost failed miserably taking the undergraduate course in Australia! Enroll only in courses that you know your qualified to take and inquire about the prerequisites of courses that you're unsure of.
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My academic experiences
Interaction with teachers
Interaction with international students
Interaction with local students
Personal comments
No improvements to suggest. However, American students might want to know that academic life in Australia places more emphasis on independent learning. The faculty members' primary job function is to conduct research in his/her field. Teaching comes second. In Australia, you will have to adjust to spending less time in lecture and more time learning independently while attending scheduled tutorial sessions which are basically question and answer sessions run by your instructor.
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My opinion of the university assessment
Exams throughout the course
Essays and/or projects at the end of course
Essays and/or projects throughout the course
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6
Kristie M
Housing
Type of housing: On campus
Arranged by: Host university
If returning, I would choose: On campus
Why?
Living on campus made it easy to get around campus and into the city. It also made it easy to participate in university activities.
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Personal comments
The ANU has off-campus living, as well as catered and self-catered halls. I lived in Burton and Garren Hall for about $70 (US) a week, which was the least expensive, self-catered facility. We were assigned locked refrigerators and cabinets for food and cookware storage. The ovens and stoves were in a large communal room. Students from all over Australia, Europe, East and South East Asia studied at the ANU and it was fantastic sharing meals with them and learning about their cultures. Towards the end of the semester, we each took turns cooking on certain days to save time for studies. The Asian students would cook fantastic meals! I hope they didn't totally dread my American cooking! Macaroni and cheese will never compare to William's (China) Mongolian Beef or Tiffany's (Singapore) Spicey Chicken, Ginger and Asian Vegetable Soup! If I were to participate in another exchange program, I would certainly choose to live in a self-catered facility again. Soem of my most memorable conversations and learning experiences in Australia occurred in the B&G dining hall.
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3
Kristie M
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Nightlife, Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
The city center is the best place to hang out on weekends. There are plenty of good restaurants and coffee shops to go to...when they're open. One cultural difference that my fellow Americans will have to get used to is that the shops in Australia often close early or when business is slow, especially during winter. During my first week in Australia, I remember heading out for a cup of coffee at about 8:00pm. After walking a half-hour to the city center and around downtown for another hour or so looking for a place that was open, I realized that everything was closed. I was no longer in a society that carried on 24-hours a day! There were no Wal-Mart's and no Denny's to head to in the wee hours of the night while taking that all-important late-night study-break. The only exception to this rule, pertains to the night clubs which stay open until 4AM. My hall even had a bar, making it easier to walk downstairs for a beer than to find a cup of joe. The only time the hall served coffee was during the exam period! Australian university students certainly like to drink and the university halls are permitted to serve alcohol, unlike most universities in America.
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3
Kristie M
Expenses
Main source of funding:
Personal savings
Other sources of funding:
Other
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
Favorable exchange rate, even in consideration of higher prices.
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Food, Travel:
was the same price as at home.
Housing, Telephone, Nightlife, Overall:
was less expensive than at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
Yes...my wallet was stolen and I had everything in it except my passport. It's more convenient to use credit cards than to carry cash and traveler's checks. Notify your lenders that you will be overseas and verify that you pin number will work at ATM's in your host country. Tell them how long you plan to be gone and where you plan to travel. Provide them with your email address and the name of a person to contact other than youself if they suspect suspicious transaction activity. I would suggest keeping at least one major credit card in a safe location for emergencies (hide it in your dorm room somewhere). Make copies of all important docments you'll be carrying and all credit and bank cards. Give copies and customer service numbers to someone you trust in the event that you need their help to assist you. All of my bank cards were in my wallet at the time it was stolen. My dad was able to facilitate the reissue of my credit cards because he had power of attorney over my finances while I was overseas and copies of the information he needed.
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0
Catalina P
Overall
I wish I had known...
To know that my english is very good, and I can understand everybody when they are talking to me. And be a competitive person because I have lived something that make me grow up like a person.
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In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
I think it is a excellent university, I just want to thank for the opportunity that it gave me.
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
Nothing, Just enjoy your trip, and be open for all the opportunities.And travel around Australia, it is a very interesting country. I liked so much wollongong, it is a very nice place to go, and Brisbane as well.
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