Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An Unforgettable and Spectacular Experience Past Review

By (Anderson University, SC) - abroad from 08/25/2016 to 11/25/2016 with

CEA CAPA Education Abroad: Sydney, Australia

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to work in a professional setting and gained real life experience relevant to my major. I gained a greater insight into an overall global mindset and was reassured that international studies is something I'm confident in pursing.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The educational experience in Sydney was very unique and interactive. CAPA excellently implements a program that allows for real, interesting class work coupled with interactive exploration of the subject matter within the city. Overall, the classes were not as difficult as my home university, but did challenge me to grow in my perspective as a student in the global market place.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The administration in Sydney is excellent! The admin really love what they do and it shows in how they interact with students and plan events. They were incredibly kind and open as well as informative and helpful with local city insight.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing arrangements are very nice. The student apartments are equipped with kitchen supplies and bedding and allows for less of a burden on the student. The only complaint might be that the quarters are so close, room to room and apartment to apartment, that noise was sometimes an issue.

* Food:

Food in Sydney is spectacular and the CAPA program hosted various events for students to get a local taste. From harbor dinner cruises, to food crawls, and zoo buffets- the program did a great job at allowing students to taste authentic cuisine.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very integrated, mainly because of my internship and activities I participated in outside of campus. Aside from the local professors and admin giving cultural tips, my internship was a great place to experience true Aussie life style and work culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no experience with healthcare, but it seemed solid and easy to use.

* Safety:

I never once felt unsafe in Sydney. I rode the bus and train everyday and went to many places, sometimes 2 hours outside the city, alone and never once felt unsafe.

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

I loved CAPA and the students and local I met.

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)

I did spend more money than expected, but if you budget well, costs won't be too high.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? In Sydney, many grocery stores have discounted produce that's "blemished" and often less than half the price of regular stuff. Best advice is to look for deals like that and choose to cook for yourself instead of eating out always.

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?
  • Location
  • Group Activities
  • Admin
* What could be improved?
  • Class Structure
  • Class grading system
  • maybe more group events
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Perhaps how much I would miss Sydney after leaving so maybe that I'd appreciate every experience that much more.

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.