Sydney: Totally Worth the Debt Past Review
By Allyson B (English Literature (British and Commonwealth)., University of Rochester) for
IES Abroad: Sydney Direct Enrollment - University Of Sydney
I loved my time abroad. I learned that I am an independent person and that I love being in challenging situations. I also look at things from a more global perspective.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
They were always available and made every effort to help. They had a lot of activities scheduled that helped introduce us to the culture. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in co-ed Student apartments with American and Australian students. It was a nice community that was located in close proximity to a main shopping/restaurant area. It was close to campus, but provided enough distance to make the experience more independent. |
| * Food: |
They had everything I was accustomed to having at home, as well as great local and international cuisines. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There was so much to do in Sydney. There is something for everyone to enjoy and I guarantee if you are looking for something to do, you will never be bored. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I didn't have to address any health issues overseas, but friends who did had an easy time obtaining the help they needed. Also, they cover in detail health issues and procedures during orientation upon arrival. I felt so safe in Sydney. I felt completely comfortable walking alone in the city, and there are always police nearby, though they rarely have to enforce the law. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Food is not cheap in Australia. I spent around 100-200 AUD every 2 weeks for food and personal expenses. Travel is not cheap and we did not receive student discounts. However, there are a lot of free things to do in the city. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | It is not a cheap place to visit. Traveling is very expensive, and public transportation adds up quickly. I worked out a budget early on which helped me not spend excessively. Try to avoid eating out, which is difficult because there are so many food options. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
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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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Really make an effort to branch off from your group. It's so rewarding to be able to walk around the city and know where you're going and what your doing. You aren't going abroad to make American friends. Make sure you join a Student club, and explore as much as you can! Sydney is a city of hidden gems. |
