Hey, New Zealand dopers! I think I need a little help. I currently attend UC Santa Barbara, and I’ve been seriously considering studying abroad for a year; I figure it’s the kind of opportunity I’d rather not let slip through my fingers. As I consider Europe a fairly unoriginal place to go, I’d like to further my education in New Zealand for a year.
Thing is, there are seven colleges to select from. Does anyone have an opinion on which is preferred, or can anyone actually testify to the quality of life at one particular school over another?
My choices:
Lincoln University, Christchurch
Massey University, Palmerston North
The University of Auckland
University of Canterbury, Christchurch
University of Otago, Dunedin
The University of Waikato, Hamilton
Victoria University of Wellington
I’ve been leaning toward U of Auckland or VU Wellington due to their proximity to major cities, but I’d like any sort of suggestion that could be given me! I don’t know a huge amount about the country (more than your average American, maybe, but certainly not as much as a resident), so any advice is welcome.