Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Just Another day in (Surfers) Paradise! Past Review

By (Political Science and Government, Roger Williams University / RWU) - abroad from 02/12/2017 to 06/18/2017 with

IFSA: Gold Coast & Brisbane - Griffith University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Australia was the most amazing experience of my life. Living in an apartment in Surfers Paradise was a great place to start "adulating". I truly gained a new sense of independence while living and traveling abroad. These experiences could never have been replicated by any other area other than Australia. I miss it every day and wouldn't trade my experience for anything.

Review Photos

IFSA-Butler: Gold Coast & Brisbane - Griffith University Photo IFSA-Butler: Gold Coast & Brisbane - Griffith University Photo

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 really did learn so much in a short 4 and a half months abroad, on how to travel on my own to how to accept different cultures and even the history of Australian aboriginals

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

I love my on-site administrator (Rebecca). I ended up having her as a professor at University and she was a huge help to me not only in that course but with anything else i needed for my time abroad

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Loved my apartment in surfers paradise, I would move back in a second

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I thankfully never needed it, but seemed to always be available

* Safety:

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

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? close to $10,000
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? save everything you can, it will be worth it once you can travel and try every single experience

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

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • Sydney orientation
  • Griffith University
  • Location of Apartments
* What could be improved?
  • Could offer more excursions for students throughout semester
  • transport to Brisbane airport for group flight was not provided (very inconvenient, total bummer)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I has a better grasp of how expensive things are in Australia

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.