Highest highs, lowest lows. Past Review
By A student (Providence College) - abroad from 02/12/2013 to 07/01/2013 with
IFSA: Sydney - Macquarie University
You can't rely on other people and you can't care so much about what other people think. seek to do the things that make you happy. It was incredibly worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
All studying by yourself |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
not culturally diverse not safe -- someone was almost stabbed to death in my kitchen |
| * Food: |
expensive sushi is great and cheap thai is popular and delicious |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
But this is only because I branched out on my own |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had a parasite for 6 weeks and the first doctor at the Macquarie medical center told me he thought nothing was wrong with me. He was incredibly rude, did not listen, and did not seem interested in helping me. I had to be persistent and go back to see another doctor. |
| * Safety: |
The suburb was fairly safe. The city could be sketchy in areas. The village was at times very unsafe. |
| 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) |
Most people here could not manage on this little amount of money. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $175 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Don't eat out. Budget. Buy cheap food. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Academics here are awful -- there's no amount of preparation that will help you pass classes. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
