Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Look at CAPA Sydney Past Review

By (Sport Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst) - abroad from 08/28/2013 to 11/29/2013 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Sydney, Australia

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a new appreciation for living on my own, as well as how to hunt for good bargains. Definitely 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.

Classes were challenging and thought provoking, although sometimes we felt that the professors could've done a better job explaining about the subjects we were being taught.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Apartment clean and comfortable. Free Wi-Fi and Cable, weekly maid service cleans the all the rooms.

* Food:

Food was up to us to make and eat, and I'll say my cooking was good.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Didn't have to work with healthcare fortunately, but with my friends who did have to deal with them, generally they worked well enough.

* Safety:

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

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)

Managed to live under budget and still live the "relatively" good life.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? About $75-$200 per week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Pasta is cheap cheap cheap. Buy generic, just as good as the brand names and much cheaper. Keep track of sales and discounts.

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

  • Americans
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?
  • Public Transportation card included
  • Ease of getting around.
  • Classes relatively easily graded
* What could be improved?
  • Public Transport could be faster.
  • Give back the food budget that they included before.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Where the good and cheap restaurants were.

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.