Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Vacation Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/05/2019 to 11/30/2019 with

IES Abroad: Sydney Direct Enrollment - University Of Sydney

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
From being abroad I fully realized that there is more to life than academia and getting a good GPA. I was able to slack off a bit on school and focus on the social aspect of my life more which was a great experience for me. Studying abroad was a great test of my ability to live on my own and take care of myself.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

resources at USYD were amazing, but academically I did not find the program to be as challenging or intense as my home university.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Sydney was a great choice for me, It provided an easier academic experience for me that served as a great break and "reset" semester. There is also a great program built around study abroad and exchange students that constantly holds all kinds of events, so there is no shortage of opportunity to meet new people. That being said, most of the people (almost all) were also study abroad students with a majority of them being from America as well, so I didn't get to meet people from a range of areas.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I was required to pay my own rent, so probably spent about $450-500 AUD per week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If you have to cook for yourself, avoid going out to eat if you can.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Opportunities to meet people.
  • Not super academically demanding, though I'm sure this depends on which classes you are taking.
  • Lots of social events.
* What could be improved?
  • Opportunities for international students to meet local students.
  • Living in the campus housing is ridiculously expensive.
  • No University provided food/meal plans.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It is okay to take time to yourself when you need it and allow yourself to miss home.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.