I loved this program! Past Review
By Emily B (American Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 07/19/2018 to 11/25/2018 with
IFSA: Sydney - University of Sydney
It was absolutely worthwhile- I had never been to Australia before, and I was able to check so much off my bucket list. Though travel is much harder to do than in Europe, it is so worth being in this part of the world and seeing so many stunning places!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I had much less work at USyd than at my home university, which was nice because I had more time to explore the city. However, the readings were challenging and engaging. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Fiona and the whole IFSA team were so welcoming! I loved all of the events they planned, and they really helped me feel at home in Sydney! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my apartment and couldn't have asked for better flatmates! |
| * Food: |
USyd food was far better than my home school's, but still left something to be desired. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I joined a few societies at USyd and got to meet Australian friends through those in addition to one of my classes, which really helped me integrate into the local culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I got injured several times during the program, and was able to access good health care for free through USyd's student health services. |
| * Safety: |
Overall, I felt much safer in Sydney than in the US. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved everything about it! |
Finances
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* 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) |
Sydney is INSANELY expensive! The costs add up so quickly. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | not entirely sure |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | When you travel, stay in hostels- you'll save so much money and you might meet some interesting people. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I got a bit homesick, which was an unexpected surprise. I'd lived in another country during my childhood and had never been homesick nor expected to be homesick before, so I wish I had known how to cope with it. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
