Incredible Self-Learning Experience Past Review
By A student (Business Economics, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/14/2015 to 04/30/2015 with
Boston University: Sydney - Sydney Internship Program
I absorbed a lot in the classes that I took, however most of what I learned was with other experiences. The list includes: how to survive in a city, public transportation, cooking for myself, the Australian workplace. It was extremely worthwhile for my overall growth.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Academics within this program are clearly not as strong as those at larger universities, but you do receive the smaller classroom experience with fellow students that are at the same learning levels. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The coordination was spot-on, and they are very willing to help you pick a course that fits your needs. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Suite-style living, and all students are in one building. Plus it was an exceptional location. Loved it! |
| * Food: |
you are provided a kitchen, however there are no cafeterias. End up buying food out a lot, but the food in the area is awesome. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Coming from the U.S., there is a smooth transition because it does compare with the likes of NYC and LA. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There is no on-campus help. But the staff would help you get in touch with a doctor. |
| * Safety: |
Sydney is a really safe city, I felt comfortable the whole time. Within the program, they have building security that is stringent on not allowing any guests in the building between 9 pm - 4 am. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
Australia, especially in Sydney, is very expensive. You can cook pasta every night and decide not to travel; but if you want to get a full experience, you will be spending quite a lot. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $300-400 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Travel over winter break, before you get to Australia, so you feel better about leaving in May having spent quite a lot. Get an OPAL card for transportation, and utilize ubers instead of cabs. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 0 |
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 wish I had reviews on the classes that I took. One of them was a miserable experience with a professor that clearly did not have experience with students that were adapting to new material. I also wish I knew about more local getaways, because it was expensive to travel to New Zealand, Cairns, and Melbourne. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
