Best 3 months of my life! Past Review
By A student (Exercise Science, Simmons College) - abroad from 08/26/2015 to 11/28/2015 with
CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Sydney, Australia
The internship program was really helpful and I am grateful for the experience and I learned I would much rather work in Australia because of the laid back work culture and the benefits you get.
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. |
Not too challenging, but engaging. Resources at the library were great and I din't buy any books which saved money. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Our on-site staff were supportive but also fun. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartments were new and great, but I wish they were more furnished with kitchen supplies. |
| * Food: |
No food provided except for at events, if you are in apartment you cook for yourself/buy food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Since the classes weren't with Australian students, I only met them going out or at my internship. Not a big culture adjustment in Oz. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
There was a doctors office close by and they pointed it out and explained the process to us on a neighborhood tour. Insurance was included. No vaccines needed, no large health issues. |
| * Safety: |
I never felt unsafe in Sydney. It is well-lit, clean, and people are polite. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
CAPA was a great supportive program. I did a summer study abroad program with a different provider and this experience with CAPA was so much better from the staff, housing, classroom time and even professors. What I would have liked to have was classes with Australian students, but since I wanted to be on the American semester system so that I could return to America on time for the spring semester, it's just the CAPA students in your classes at this location. I also wish there was a food budget included in the fees so that my scholarship could have helped out with that expense. CAPA arranged events that were fun and things I might not have been able to done easily on my own, like the trip to the Blue Mountains and then to a walkabout wildlife park. I wouldn't have been able to go without a car! OVerall they were involved enough but not too much. It was a good balance. |
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) |
Food is crazy expensive in Sydney. If you shop smart it is not too bad, but anytime going out to eat can be tough on your wallet unless you find deals. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 80 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't shop at the biggest name grocery store unless they have great sales. Eat before you go out so you are not tempted by the amazing food all the time! Shop at markets on the weekends. Some are cheap and great for souvenirs. |
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 wish I knew that the commute to class was 45 minutes and to internship was 45 minutes in the other direction. I had one of the furthest internships, it all depends what you get, but I wish I prepared for 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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
