Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best semester of my life. Past Review

By (University of the Pacific) - abroad from 02/15/2018 to 06/26/2018 with

IES Abroad: Sydney Direct Enrollment - University Of New South Wales

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile and I wish it was something everyone could or wanted to experience. I grew in my morally, professionally and became more independent.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I thought that the academic standards were very hard in comparison to American standards which was not a bad thing but it made some parts of my time their really stressful and the communication between faculty could be improved in the best interest of the students.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The people at the abroad office and the administration were super helpful and were quick to help in any way possible.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

If I could rate this section 10 stars, I would. Anyone going into this program should live in the colleges at UNSW especially Goldstein. It felt and still feels like a home away from home and I made some of my closest friends there and best memories of being abroad.

* Food:

The dining hall food at the colleges was a hit and miss. I would suggest getting a fridge and keeping some stuff to make in case it does not taste good.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The more I did with the colleges the more integrated I felt.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The healthcare was easily accessible but it was somewhat inconvenient to have to get a reimbursement afterwards. At UNSW it was also super packed and it would be a few weeks before you could get an appointment.

* Safety:

I almost always felt safe when I was in the city or around campus but was always aware of my surroundings if we were going to a bar or club because there were a few times that people seemed a bit dangerous. So my advice is to leave with the same people you came with and don't go off alone at a club.

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

I would not trade my experience for the world. If I could do it again I would not change a thing.

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? Around $80
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save as much as you can because it was so easy to spend money especially at the end of your stay when you want to buy gifts for your family and friends. Also keep an eye on your credit card while abroad so nothing gets out of hand.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • Goldstein
  • distance from the city-close but not that close
  • near the beach
* What could be improved?
  • the dining hall food
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how hard the finals were going to be.

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.