Best semester of my life :) Past Review
By Anne M (American Studies, English, Wellesley College) - abroad from 02/14/2016 to 06/23/2017 with
University of Sydney: Sydney - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
It was totally worthwhile. I learned that I am so much tougher than I thought.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Professors were amazing. Highly recommend taking an American Studies course abroad. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Urbanest was amazing and worth every penny. |
| * Food: |
Food is expensive but delicious! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
It's hard to make friends with actual Australians when you live in American/International dorms, but the American friends I made were amazing. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Beautiful, safe |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Best place on earth, best people |
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 EXPENSIVE and when you live abroad you're living with other rich kids who always peer pressure you into spending more money. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 200 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | The laundry machines at my living place were RIDICULOUS. $4 per load, so between washer and dryer $8 to do a load of laundry. So I got my laundry detergent and kept it in my shower, and I set up a drying rack in my bathroom. Every night while my hair was conditioning in the shower, I would wash my outfit from that day and put it on the drying rack. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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? | If you're dating somebody back in the states.... DUMP THEM. Just DUMP THEM. Do NOT go abroad in a long distance relationship. Your relationship can go on hold for four months. Being abroad is about independence and about finding out who you are, and that is IMPOSSIBLE to do if you have somebody on the phone 2 hours a day. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
