Welcome to 2009! Whether you're back at work or still on holiday we've got loads of goodies to help keep you feeling the summer love! Click here for a taste of what we've got...
Stuck trying to decide where to study next year? It's a big decision, and not one that you want to make lightly.
We chatted to Rebecca, an nzgirl who's living it up in Dunedin, to give you an inside look into life as a student at the University of Otago...
Name: Rebecca Age: 22 Degree: BCom Home town: Wellington
How did you find living away from home when you moved to Otago for uni? It was a big move going all the way down to Otago and being so far away from home for the first time, but the Residential Colleges at Otago are excellent, I made heaps of new friends really quickly, and the staff are really supportive. And the food isn’t as bad as everyone thinks!
What's your living situation and how do you like it? In the first year I was in a hostel, Uni Col, which was great. Then in my second year I went flatting. It was really good to get into a hostel first as I met heaps of people and I didn’t have to worry about anything.
What about the infamous Otago ‘O’ Weeks - are they as nuts as they’re rumoured to be? Totally! And that is all I want to say on that. Our hall was crazy.
What did you love about the Otago culture? There is always something happening on campus, and heaps to do around the area, so you’re never bored! Of course there was a lot of fun to be had, but what I loved the most was the community atmosphere down there, everyone knows they are really part of something special - Otago is an institution! Whenever you meet someone who is an Otago grad you have an immediate bond, it’s like you are part of a prestigious club.
Give us an idea of what sort of things there are to do there… There is SO much to do in Dunedin. In the city you can go shopping, check out the cafes, go to the beach, and there are heaps of outdoor sports to get into - surfing, snowboarding, rock climbing.
Dunedin is pretty isolated from the rest of the country - how did you find this? Well actually it didn’t feel isolated at all as there are always so many people around and things going on. It is a mini city down there all geared up for students, so you never feel lonely! How did you handle the cold?! Well Otago students aren’t called scarfies without good reason! Flats can get pretty cold in winter, but you just rug up with lots of jumpers and scarves.
What was your favourite thing about your time in Otago? Definitely the friends I made - some of the people I met there will be friends for life!
And how about the education…did you get much studying in? The lecturers and tutors are fantastic, they really help you out when you need it, and the facilities are great, especially the library. There are so many course options as well, and the degree structure is pretty flexible, so you really feel like you are making the most of your degree.
Why did you choose to go to Otago University? It was a combination of things, the lifestyle, some friends of mine were already going and I knew that a degree from Otago would benefit me in the future.
Why would you recommend the University of Otago to others? Being a student at Otago is such an awesome experience, and you will never forget your time there. And the best thing is that employers really recognise Otago grads as a step above the rest, and Otago degrees can get you into some great jobs.
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Want to find out more about studying at the University of Otago? Click here
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that you want to make lightly.
What did you love about the Otago culture?
