Should I/How do I go to school in Australia?

[brendonnelly]

And you guys have States instead of Provinces or Territories? I didn't know that!

Well, mostly States, but the word "Territory" is used for Northern Territory (which might as well be a state, really), and the Australian Capital Territory, which was created to avoid arguments about which State the nations capital city would be in. Each State/Territory having its own laws/elections, seperate from the federal laws/elections which are stuck on top, so to speak.

I also don't want to live somewhere that is super expensive.

Australia has a very high cost of living...you hear complaints about games being more expensive, but the same applies to all sorts of things.

I went to Macquarie (in Sydney), they are supposed to have a decent history section...though it helps that nobody's mums make them do history, you don't have hordes of insufferable retards resenting having to turn up and not talk over the lecturer.

The drinking age here in the US is 21. I am 21 so drinking doens't really concern me. lol. I think I heard its 18 there?

Yeah, 18 is the age when you become able to do most of those sorts of things.

Actually, there are some differences to the territories (Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory) For one, they don't have full state governments.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

so don't be surprised when you can't get a hold of a $1 burger.

Bah, easy to get if you don't mind haggling with the homeless guy about to eat it.

 

[Bealzibob]

My partner is Australian and I have spent quite a bit of time there.

1. First of all, Australians don't call Universities "schools". The best University in Australia is the Australian National University if I recall correctly. That's in the capital, Canberra. Other good universities include The University of Sydney and The University of New South Wales. They are both in Sydney.

2. I highly recommend the country. It's beautiful. It's very similar to the UK culture wise, but the climate, the land and the people are improved by a million.

3. Don't lie down in the grass. Seriously, you can't do that there.

Who the fuck cares what they call it? He's American, he doesn't have to change something as trivial as what he calls a school because he wants to move.

Actually it's rather important considering I was about to recommend him my highschool.

OT: Melbourne or Sydney is probablly the place to go and thats most likely where I will be heading in the next few years. We don't really judge our highschool like americans (sterotypically) do and you won't find a Uni that is superior to others so much as they usually excel in individual courses.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

The universities in Australia are top class, especially in regards to biological science and law.

Too good with law... Law graduates are practically cage fighting for the few jobs available.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

They are so insanely, stupidly fast, and it was spazzing out, literally dripping with bug spray

That's when you pull out a lighter and torch it. Always fucks them up...


... only then you have the hazard of an angry flaming spider running around the place.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

If what I hear is correct, you may want to invest in a tennis racket to keep out spiders.

I tried a tennis racquet once, it just made the spider angry.

You need to work out your finances, Sydney is hella expensive to live, especially in the city. Brisbane isn't too bad but it has nasty ass morning traffic, road layout isn't the best in the country. Melbourne is nice, provided you don't mind brass monkey weather in the winter.

 

[Angus565]

Oh, they get bigger than that.

They're completely non-threatening and harmless to humans, but they're terrifying for other reasons. Probably the strangest thing is, huntsmans are aware of your presence and will actively stalk you around the house. I had one downstairs on the opposite side of the house and it followed me all the way upstairs to the other side. I flopped back in my chair and stretched, looking up, and it was on the ceiling above me.

It was too high to catch, so I had to just kill it with spray, I figured. And fucking hell, they do not die. They are so insanely, stupidly fast, and it was spazzing out, literally dripping with bug spray as it proceeded to follow me around the room languidly thrashing at my feet, doing the whole "look at me I'm on my hind legs and bearing my fangs at you" thing that tarantulas do.

I have have so much respect for you... If I had one of those things on my ceiling I would probably abandon the house and burn it to the ground o_o

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

The universities in Australia are top class, especially in regards to biological science and law.

Too good with law... Law graduates are practically cage fighting for the few jobs available.

I know this all too well. I'm soon to graduate and in my graduation year alone, there are about 100 fresh law grads for South Australia, a state with a whopping population of one million...

My sister just graduated from Flinders Law in the mid-year batch. She's lucky to be getting 1 day a week volunteer to count towards... shit, I forget the term for it, but the 2 years with an experienced practitioner until they let you fly solo.

Don't look at me, I dropped out of International Studies at UniSA... long story.

 

[captaincabbage]

Hey, I'm an Aussie. I gotta say, if you're gonna study abroad, you could do a lot worse than Melbourne University, or RMIT. They're both excellent schools with a great track record.

Definitely come to Melbourne tho. Just because I'm a Melbournian and I'll get punched if I don't say Melbourne is the best, most likely by me.

Also, try and pronounce it "Mel-burn", not "Mel-born" as many Americans do. I'm not sure why, but it just gives most Aussies the shits when you. Same with Brisbane being pronounced as it's spelt, i.e "Bris-Bane". Pronounce it "Bris-ben".


Again, I have no idea why it give me and everyone I know the shits, it just does.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Also, try and pronounce it "Mel-burn"

Pffft. If you want to sound like a local it's Melbun.. or even better, Melb'n... or "derp derp, gimme ya wallet, fuck ya"... oh wait, that last one is Pakenham locals.

 

[SillyBear]

I am currently in the US and getting bored with my life. It occurred to me the other day that it would be cool to study abroad and I've always wanted to see Australia.

So, has anyone here done something like that? Does anyone live in Australia? What is a good school?

I'm curious about people who live there or have lived there and what their opinion is about it.

My partner is Australian and I have spent quite a bit of time there.

1. First of all, Australians don't call Universities "schools". The best University in Australia is the Australian National University if I recall correctly. That's in the capital, Canberra. Other good universities include The University of Sydney and The University of New South Wales. They are both in Sydney.

2. I highly recommend the country. It's beautiful. It's very similar to the UK culture wise, but the climate, the land and the people are improved by a million.

3. Don't lie down in the grass. Seriously, you can't do that there.

Who the fuck cares what they call it? He's American, he doesn't have to change something as trivial as what he calls a school because he wants to move.

Woah, you put your asshole pants on this morning.

I was just giving him advice. A "school" is a place children go in Australia, it's not interchangeable with the word "university". It's a helpful piece of advice that would save him a lot of confusion. No need to act like an asshole, but I guess that's the internet for ya.

 

[Bunnymarn]

I think Sydney Uni has the largest history department out of all the universities (not 100% sure), and it's also very old fashioned and has the largest library in the Southern Hemisphere, I believe. However, Sydney/NSW is the most expensive state to live in, so if you're looking for somewhere cheaper, I'd suggest Melbourne. I'm fairly sure Melbourne Uni, and possibly Monash (which is in Melbourne), have pretty good history departments. You could go to ANU, which is considered one of/the top unis in Australia, but there is virtually nothing to do in Canberra, unless there's some secret scene I haven't heard about. They've got firecrackers and X rated movies, though.

 

[cystemic]

you can do a double degree in most unis. sydney is the best city imo but we are a bit on the expensive side. I do a degree in interactive entertainment with a major in games programming and I'm in the city every day so there's never a day where I don't get to do anything exciting XD. Australia is great and if you study here I'm sure you'll get to visit all of it, not just the city you're studying in, we head up to Queensland for holidays when its warm and sunny and stay in Sydney during the QLD rainy season. and it's always rainy and cold in melbourne from what i remember...

 

[Hipsy_Gypsy]

If what I hear is correct, you may want to invest in a tennis racket to keep out spiders.

Spoiler

Oh, they get bigger than that.

They're completely non-threatening and harmless to humans, but they're terrifying for other reasons. Probably the strangest thing is, huntsmans are aware of your presence and will actively stalk you around the house. I had one downstairs on the opposite side of the house and it followed me all the way upstairs to the other side. I flopped back in my chair and stretched, looking up, and it was on the ceiling above me.

It was too high to catch, so I had to just kill it with spray, I figured. And fucking hell, they do not die. They are so insanely, stupidly fast, and it was spazzing out, literally dripping with bug spray as it proceeded to follow me around the room languidly thrashing at my feet, doing the whole "look at me I'm on my hind legs and bearing my fangs at you" thing that tarantulas do.

I remember seeing some guy filming himself trying to catch a huge ass spider from his ceiling in Australia on Oops TV with what looked like a hard plastic cake cover. He went to put it over it then the spider jumped, startling the guy in the process and the entire camera fell to the floor.

I will never forget that video. Ever. I think that's the only thing that really puts me off living in Australia or even visiting because I have a bit of a problem with them. I feel so silly about it! Jeepers... I'll try to find that video actually.

I have have so much respect for you... If I had one of those things on my ceiling I would probably abandon the house and burn it to the ground o_o

Ditto LOL


x

 

[A Free Man]

I am currently in the US and getting bored with my life. It occurred to me the other day that it would be cool to study abroad and I've always wanted to see Australia.

So, has anyone here done something like that? Does anyone live in Australia? What is a good school?

I'm curious about people who live there or have lived there and what their opinion is about it.

Specific to schools, I don't think there is anything too special. I mean like anywhere there are some good ones and some bad ones. But as a place to live, I love Australia. I am lucky enough to have seen many places around the world and most of them were extremely fun vacation spots but as far as living goes I wouldn't want to stay anywhere other then Australia. It is just a great place in my opinion, good people.

 

[Biosophilogical]

3. Don't lie down in the grass. Seriously, you can't do that there.

Are ... are you sure? I mean, I understand if you lie down on someone else's grass, but in a park, or on your own grass? I have frequently laid down on grass (unless you mean drop bears and their favourite snacks 'lazy park-goers' in which case all you need is a drop-bear immunisation, they're free at the local GP).

Drop bear immunisations? Expensive snake oil! I have it on good authority that they're just saline solution. Vegemite behind the ears, or, if you feel more bloodthirsty, a sharp object strapped to your head. That'll sort them out quick smart.

Snake oil, my arse! The immunisation is a vegemite producing bacteria, making your breath the drop-bear equivalent of an insect repellent. It was only later that Australians realised that vegemite was not restricted to use as a bear-repellent, but also made for a great toast condiment.

 

[legion431]

I'd say Newcastle. It's a pretty medium sized city, lots of good beaches, not a big hustle and bustle like other major cities and it's pretty lay back. There's also some good Universities near there.