Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I loved the beach and the weather, though it was lonely at times. Past Review

By (Health Science Society and Policy, Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/14/2014 to 06/30/2014 with

ISA Study Abroad in Sydney, Australia

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about myself. It was worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

University of Sydney is quite a rigorous university, and very different from Brandeis.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

When we arrived in Brisbane it was a mess. None of us knew where to go and we all almost missed our connecting flight to Cainnes

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The place was nice, but very expensive. Also we were not with Australians which made it hard to integrate ourselves into the country

* Food:

I made my own food, because I had a kitchen and everything was very expensive.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

University of Sydney is a commuter school. Also, my living arrangement was off campus with only Americans.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I always felt very safe

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

It was so expensive in Sydney. The minimum wage is $15 an hour!

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? It really varied per week depending on what I did.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make your own food and budget on big trips that you want to go on.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Orientation
* What could be improved?
  • Organization
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How expensive it is to be abroad.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.