Macquarie Uni

I am attending Macquarie University. The uni is probably around 35-40000 students, 1/3 of which are international. The campus is about a 15 minute walk from my flat and just the main courtyard and surrounding buildings are SXU's equivalent.

There is not really on-campus housing. There is the village about 15 minutes outside of campus, which is a collection of apartments that houses the majority of students. The parklands, where I stay, houses the rest. We are adjacent to the village, and also about 15 mins from campus. However, we're only 10 away from the shopping center, which has literally everything.

Academics are not as forced as they are in the US. By this I mean that college is not something Aussies feel they must do. Jon, our program mentor, tells us that it is typical for and Aussie to finish college (high school), then travel. They do not necessarily require a university education in order to find themselves in a successful occupation, Jon being a primary example--as he is a self-employed landscaper.

Classes, or units, are a lot more dependent on the student. Typically, you have a lecture or 2 and a tutorial, maybe a practical or a mixed session. Attendance at lectures is not mandatory and all are available to view online, but tutorials are essential and used to aid you in your understanding of course material. Not attending them can result in failure, and deportation for anyone studying on a visa. Professors prefer to be called by their first name and the learning environment is very casual. Busy work is non-existent; most classes consist of a couple of papers, maybe a test...but not so much weekly assignments. It is the students job to keep up with the readings and pass.

Getting a student ID card was utter chaos, as is buying books. Lines are very long and move quite slow. You have to get up early, or stay late to complete such tasks. Speaking of books, many of my classes use extended syllabi and e-reserve. The syllabus is 50+ pages, and e-reserve has articles and chapters from books online. Concession stickers are available for exchange, international, and Australian MQ students, but not for study-abroad students. In the city's eyes, we are not eligible because we are not replacing an Aussie student or living here like a resident. It's a bummer, but what can you do?

There are numerous clubs and activities available for students. Many clubs cost a couple of dollars to join, but you reap the benefits--such as free food, friends, and a good time. There is also a gym known as the Sports and Aquatic Center. It costs something like $180 to join, but it gives you access to courts, pools, weights, and classes. There are even some trips organized through the facility.

The campus also has its very own bar, the Ubar. It is the hot spot to be on Thursday nights and has affordable drinks! AMAZING! It's a great environment, although it is still bizarre to me that I can grab a rum and coke between classes.

Behind the Ubar is a huge lake with a fountain. It is like Lake Marian, only it's a real lake and doesn't smell like goose poop.

So how do I feel about MQ? It is honestly everything I'd hoped for. Granted, things are a hell of a lot more difficult to get accomplished, I don't have a meal plan, and I have to get up earlier than I usually would, but it is completely worth it.