Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Great city, not a great program Past Review

By (Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 01/27/2015 to 04/17/2015 with

Global Experiences: Internships in London, England

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I loved working abroad and living in Sydney and my company was great. However at first Global Experiences paired me with a small company where the manager was the whole company. It did not match my interests and when I asked to change companies and interview again they were reluctant to change. Eventually I said I either needed to change companies or go during the summer and finally they had me interview with the company I interned with. If I had stuck with the first company, my experience would not have been the same. Part of what made my experience so great was my co-workers.

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.

I learned so much from my company and the hospitality industry.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

We did some events, but the price paid for the program versus the events did not correlate. The events were nice but our suggestions weren't taken into account.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We stayed in Forest Lodge which was small and the bathrooms were gross. It was fun meeting people from around the world, but it was nothing more than a glorified hostel.

* Food:

Sydney is amazing with so many different options.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to cook as much as possible! And take advantage of weekly specials.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
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?
  • Sydney
  • Recommendations
  • My job
* What could be improved?
  • Housing
  • Price for what you get
  • Events while here
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? N/A

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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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.