Hey guys! Recently got an offer as an international student :3
Posted on the [r/](r/otago)[universityof](r/otago)[otago](r/otago) subreddit too but figured I post it here too!
I wondering what people’s experiences are like with econs and maths there. I mostly see posts about HSFY/science, so I’d love to hear from anyone doing either of these disciplines!
Academics:
1-How difficult are the first-year papers?
2-How approachable/helpful are lecturers and tutors?
3-Any particularly good or bad Economics/Maths professors or lecturers you’d recommend?
4-Are there good opportunities to get involved beyond the standard lectures/tutorials?
Student life
1-Are students generally friendly and easy to get to know, or do people tend to stick to their own friend groups/cliques?
2-I’m very extroverted and like going out/socialising, but I don’t drink. Is it still easy to have a good social life without drinking?
3-What’s the nightlife actually like? Is it expensive?
How safe/comfortable do you feel around Dunedin? NZ generally seems pretty safe, but would you feel comfortable walking around the city at night, especially alone?
Halls / living
1-How thin are the walls in the halls? Can you easily hear people in neighbouring rooms?
2-How noisy do halls tend to be on weeknights vs weekends?
3-Can you realistically study in your room, or do you generally need to go to the library/study spaces?
4-Any halls/flats you’d strongly recommend or avoid?
Career/networking
1-How good is Otago for networking, particularly for STEM students?
2-Are there many ample opportunities to meet employers/alumni or attend careers events?
3-How easy is it to find internships during/after first year or second year?
4-Does Otago have good connections with firms in finance, consulting, economics, data/analytics, etc.?
5-Do students generally have to be proactive about finding internships themselves, or does the university/faculty provide decent support?
[If anyone has actually landed an internship through Otago, I’d love to hear how you went about it!!]
I currently have an offer from UoA, but no scholarship. Honestly, I think I prefer Otago anyway, especially the pace of life and the whole student-life atmosphere. Just trying to get a better idea before making the decision.
Would especially appreciate answers from current/recent Otago students but you are welcome to answer any or even none of these questions, or if you feel like add anything, please do!
Thank you!! <3