Selina Baguio
Flinders Degree: Bachelor of Education (Primary R-7), Bachelor of Arts
Program: Semester exchange
Destination: Butler University, the United States
Period: Semester 1 2016

“I felt that being able to succeed and live independently was very rewarding, because it proved to myself that I can do anything if I really set my mind to it”.

 

Highlight
Probably attending events, and watching college basketball. There was so much excitement and hype with Bulldog Fans. As well as making new friends, and learning about my major from different points of views. It was great, I miss it already.

Before You Go
I thought it might be difficult stay in touch with family and friends back home but it wasn’t too bad thanks to social media.

Orientation
Orientation was very welcoming, and provided everything we needed to know about settling into Butler University. There were a group of Diversity Ambassadors who showed us a tour of the campus, and we all got to know each other pretty well. I missed out most of the first days of orientation, but I was still able to get settled into the university before classes started.

Study Life
There were no lectures for my classes, only tutorials so we met up twice a week for each class and had an average of 3 sets of readings + written homework for each class. I feel like the workload was a bit overwhelming compared to Flinders, but with help from professors and organising study time it was fine.
(Resources/facilities provided to exchange students) was good. I just didn’t like how the professors preferred us printing out our assignments and readings, which felt like a lot of paper wasting when we could’ve just brought in our laptops or tablets for the readings, or submit assignments

Housing
On-campus.

Money Matters

• Housing Cost
  AU$600-$800. Meals included.

• Living Expenses
  $15,000.

Financial assistance
OS help loan around $7,000.

Lifestyle

• Typical Day
  Usually I’d wake up, get ready really quickly and go to my first class of the day. I’d have brunch with my room mate around 10:30-11am since our timetables were almost identical. Then I’d study a little bit, and do the last bit of my readings before my next class. I’d have a snack at C Club (convenience store) after class finished, and either hangout with the other international students in my wing, before heading down to have dinner with them or the other American friends I made. After dinner I’d study again and prepare my things for the next day.
• Differences
  I feel like, Australians were generally much more laid back compared to the Midwestern state of Indiana. I reckon because everyone in Butler University were generally around the same age (no mature age students) it felt like high school or something.
• Making friends
  Yeah, everyone was super friendly. There were always parties or social gatherings held by students, or events planned by the university which made it easy to meet people.
• Challenges
  I reckon the workload of the homework was a bit of a struggle, I wasn’t so used to having to do more than just read a reading each week.

Advice to Flinders Students Thinking about Overseas Study Opportunities

• Say yes to all the good opportunities once you’re there.
• Stay up to date with all the homework, but don’t forget you’re there to have fun as well.
• Keep in touch with family and friends back home through Facebook, facetiming, or snapchat
• Take heaps of photos!
• If you’re usually really nervous about living by yourself etc., remember everyone else is in the same boat and just ask questions if you need something.
• It was great, I miss it already.

• Read more stories from Selina here, here and here 
• Read other Outbound Returned Student Interviews here