Studying abroad challenges, frustration

victor

victor

Antediluvian as Feck
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So I've been thinking about going abroad for a semester next fall, to study. It's pretty much been my goal since I started studying almost two years ago now. Two of my friends are studying in Canada right now, so I got really motivated to apply.

So I go talk to the person responsible for student exchange programs, with the aspiration to study in Australia, preferrably Monash University. She tells me it's practically impossible to get in, since there are only like two spots for that university, and the requirements are high. And it would be virtually impossible for me since I have two exams I failed (well, didn't go to). She told me grades are secondary in the selection process.

The two that are there right now have grade averages of 4.3 and 4.7. I checked mine, and it's 4.2 (between 3 and 5, which is the maximum). I haven't told her my average, so maybe she was just pessimistic, but she pretty much told me there's basically no point in applying, that I should try Mexico or Quebec instead. Fuck that. My Spanish isn't that good (combined with a general lack of interest in studying in Mexico) and I barely get what they say in Quebec (retarded French dialect). My options, it seems, since I don't want to study somewhere else in Europe, are Canada or Washington State, alternatively Alaska.

Stupid. Why would I want to go somewhere where the climate is identical to here? First snow was two days ago, and it's cold and grey as hell, really depressing. I want to go somewhere warm.

To sum it up, I've been trying really hard to get good grades this past year and a half for absolutely no reason, apparently. I'm kinda having a crisis here, and wondering whether to continue studying or not.

I'm not dissing other Unis around the world, but I was so focused on going to Monash, it really is a pretty hard blow.
 
Sounds like a kick in the nuts. However, If you haven't done so, I strongly suggest that you apply to that University anyway, despite what that woman says. If you're not going to get in to that Uni, then you should hear it from them, and not from some secretary or whatever, so give it a shot anyway. You never know.

When I finished my Masters last year, I was very proud of myself, but my one regret was that I didn't take the opportunity to study in another country, so even if you don't get to go to Australia, keep looking around until you find a spot you fancy. Even more than that, have a good long think about whether dropping out is the right option, because that's a decision that has a lot of long term implications. Good luck at it anyway.
 
I can tell you that the weather is really nice here in Melbourne compared to what the rest of the guys back home gets this time of year. So..

apply for your own sake! You'll never know before you get declined. And don't drop out just because you didn't get to go to be in a warmer place for a few months. Your post uni salary can and probably will take you places later on in life.

I must say both Canada and Washington sounds pretty damn cool. Apply for those too. It's better than sitting on your ass back home being depressed because you didn't get to go to Australia. Think about that.

And why be in Sweden when you get the opportunity to go travel and see something new? Use your student time man, it's the best play time in life.
 
euhm, if your motivation to study abroad is to change climate, you're doing it for the wrong reasons anyway...
 
Crowfoot said:
...I strongly suggest that you apply to that University anyway, despite what that woman says.
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Absolutely. I noticed that in college there's always some woman (seems like it's always a woman) behind some desk who's job it is to reject whatever you want to accomplish. Just ignore her and apply anyway. In general, forget about any bureaucratic barriers they throw at you. Avoid middlemen as much as possible and of course keep trying.

I did a decent amount of traveling in the past few years but I regret never doing study abroad. Australia looks like a fun choice, but you didn't mention Asia as a possibility. Don't even bother coming up with excuses, just go somewhere in Asia if Australia doesn't work out.

Overseer, seems like lately you've been having some big ideas and are acting on them. Good for you, keep going.
 
He should go somewhere just because it will rock his socks off. It's not all about grades in the end.
 
SuAside said:
euhm, if your motivation to study abroad is to change climate, you're doing it for the wrong reasons anyway...
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That's easy to say when you don't live 150 km below the Arctic circle...


Anyway, she suggested Hong Kong, but I can't really get with the society there, y'know? I'd like to go to some English-speaking country outside of Europe, and Hong kong is, well, so-so.

I want to apply to Monash Uni in Melbourne, but if I put it as a firsthand choice and don't get in, I'll be less of a priority to my secondhand choice than others that have chosen that as a first choice, i.e if someone applies to Western Washington as a first choice and I put it as second, I've got less chance to go there.

It's kind of a catch 22, and I'm completely lost here.

Right now, in the aftermath, my life feels kinda empty, and I'm completely lost. It's like what I've been aiming for has been thrown away completely. I'll probably settle for something else, but right now it's just... Wow.
 
Getting good grades should be a reward unto itself, man. If grades are not the leading criteria for Monash, what are they, and how do you rate against them?

But as has been stated above, apply to Monash anyways. Consider other places as well, though, such as New Zealand maybe. If you're wedded to the southern hemisphere how about Singapore, or perhaps South Africa as well?
 
I wanted to go to NZ first, but there's no exchange program there, so I'd have to organize it on my own which means the Uni doesn't finance semester charges, which means I might as well go anywhere (can't afford paying for Uni though).
 
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I guess you don't need translation, but 'Studijní oddělení' is a special department (probably Student's department, counsellor(s)?) which literally takes care of you at the university - checks if you have passed enough exams to go to next semester, gives you - presumably - some help etc.

Anyway, I heard that you don't want to go to Europe, but feel free to visit Czech Republic, you will sometimes feel like you are "not _in_ Europe", the beer is great :drunk: (and cheap too, less than 1$ for half litre, booze is something like 1,5$ :D) and the girls... Yeah, go abroad to the Czech Republic :)


OK, I should have mentioned high quality education (I wouldn't, I don't know what you study) and sightseeing, nice countryside blah blah blah, but...)
 
Yeah, but there aren't any Unis there that are in the exchange program. Totally right about the counselor and guidance people, they're often as competent as monkeys.
 
The Overseer said:
I'd like to go to some English-speaking country outside of Europe, and Hong kong is, well, so-so.
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Um, English is the official language of Hong Kong, along with Chinese. I really doubt you'll have much trouble communicating with people in English there. But even if you do, so what? I think it would be much better to go to Hong Kong than Australia. It's going to be a much more rewarding and unique experience.
 
Why Monash [#38] in particular? It isn't the only uni in Australia.

Any preference for what you study? I forget your area?

Melbourne University [#22] is more prestigious, but I would probably go to Monash if I had to live in Melbourne.

One could say I am at the Sydney equivalent of Monash, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) [#41]. Sydney is the place you want to be in Australia (although Melbourne may be better for more arty types). Sydney is a beautiful and vibrant, cosmopolitan city, with a superior climate and outstanding beaches (I swim every day of the year). UNSW is more focused on science, technology, engineering, medicine and law in contrast to the more prestigious University of Sydney [#35], which is the leader in arts and a bit more stuffy and traditional (a little like Melbourne uni). UNSW is extremely active in encouraging international cooperation and innovation, being the most international uni in Australia, so I wouldn't be surprised if your uni is an exchange partner anyway, which would make it easier. I have three exchange students in my classes from different countries (US, Germany, Hong Kong). A UNSW student might be forgiven for thinking they are at a university in Hong Kong at times, such are the numbers of Asians, which might deter some people.

Another outstanding uni, especially in science, is the Australian National University [#16] in Canberra. However, the location alone is enough to drive one to suicide, as it is where our politicians are isolated, far from the coast and major population centres, in an artificial city designed by an American.

Of course there are many other unis here as well, such as UTS [not ranked] in the city.

It really depends on what you are looking to take from your exchange experience.

[EDIT: I'll put in the Times Higher Education Supplement world university rankings from last year.]
 
Monash is an excellent school, a friend of mine got her physics degree there and has had some of her work published there.
 
KQX said:
The Overseer said:
I'd like to go to some English-speaking country outside of Europe, and Hong kong is, well, so-so.
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Um, English is the official language of Hong Kong, along with Chinese.
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Melbourne is filled to the brim with asian people. Not to mention the city center which holds the china town area. No one speaks good english here except for the 12 australians I've met. Even the lecturers are foreign people.

Anyway, go and have fun man. Stop thinking about whats good and what's not. You will only end up more frustrated when you realise it wasn't like this and that at all. Just let the opportunity take you places. It will be rewarding enough. And don't get frustrated when your lecturers sucks. Just make sure to enjoy everything else mmkay?
 
Yes quietfanatic, UNSW was my second alternative for Australia, and I might apply there. I'm still kind of confused at the moment, and with exams coming up in a couple of weeks and about 20 or so sketches to finish I've got my hands full at the moment. I'll have to check all this out at a later time.

I study Industrial Design, ending with a master of science. It's a good program, since it balances design with mechanical engineering. If I want to study design, i.e art, at another uni I still have to supply them with a portfolio of sketches and such. I can't draw to save my life though, so right now, that's on ice.

I'll probably go abroad to take some mechanical engineering courses, more specifically construction, since these are in the program here. I guess I have more options where to go this way.

I guess as it stands now, if Monash is out of the picture, I've got Western Washington State in the US, or New South Wales in Australia.

I kind of want to go somewhere warm though, I need variation from the near subarctic climate here. If there was a University in the middle of the Sahara desert, I'd consider it.
 
I believe engineering is the largest faculty at UNSW and also excellent, arguably the best in Australia, although I don't have personal experience. It is separate from the Faculty of Built Environment, which has its own specialised program of Industrial Design.

A handy thing about UNSW in contrast to some other uni's here is that much of the useful information and enrolment is online, and presented in a less retarded manner, which can help research of your options. e.g. www.handbook.unsw.edu.au

I would go for Monash, then UNSW, then the US (probably inferior and filled with Americans) preference wise.

New Zealand is rather cold in places and is relatively boring compared to Australia or the US.
 
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