All the cliches were beyond true Past Review

By hklin3 (Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/17/2014 to 06/29/2014 with

IFSA: Sydney - University of Sydney

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I can't emphasize enough how worthwhile this experience was. I was able to meet all sorts of people from all corners of the world and learn about their views, perspectives, and ideas. Too many to count. For example, university systems in other countries. I met students who went to university and still had money (they made themselves) to travel all over the world. There is not the same strict path of high school, college, grad school, career that we sometimes have in the US. I also faced challenges that I was surprised to find that I could handle. I even travelled by myself, which I never thought I could do. It's amazing what you can handle when you need to.

Review Photos

IFSA-Butler: Sydney - University of Sydney 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.	The classes were a lot more focused on their topics than the usual Brandeis courses. The people enrolled in them are purely on that career track and have only taken classes like that. Therefore, if you haven't had background in an area, start with the intro level courses rather than the upper level. The amount of time commitment is a lot less, but everything counts a lot more.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	There were very helpful and a constant presence if you needed anything.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	The living arrangements were brand new and very nice. It was shocking to learn about the strict cleaning inspection halfway through the semester. The living arrangements were also different from what my program initially told me, which was slightly frustrating, but it worked out in the end.
* Food:	Food was delicious going out. Even grocery shopping we found some gems. Timtams and crumpets were amazing!
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	From living there for so long, I automatically felt like I was integrated into the local culture. Knowing where to buy groceries, the different parts of the city, the best ways to get there were all part of this.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I had strep throat while abroad and it was very easy to take care of at the university health center. The international student insurance was very easy to use.
* Safety:	Our accommodations were in a part of town that used to be a bad part, but was being revived. So depending on what block you were on would influence how safe. In general, it was like a normal city. You should avoid dark areas and unsafe neighborhoods as well as being smart.
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)	Everything there is generally more expensive. However, I usually bought groceries and only ate out once in awhile. It also took a little time to find where the cheapest stuff is, but it's doable.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$80-100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Alcohol in Australia is the most expensive thing that students buy. Four drinks at a club could also be a plane ticket to Melbourne.

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
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?	0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	The Events (Rugby Game, Opera House Show, etc) The Internship Opportunity The Living Arrangements
* What could be improved?	Advising while choosing classes
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I knew more about the Australian school system before I chose 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 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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Oceans, Coasts, and Climate Change
Course Department:	Geology
Instructor:	Multiple
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Yes, because this is a very in depth geology course about the techniques and concepts that really only pertain to geology majors. No field trips. The practicals were not dealing with anything outside of a computer lab and fake data. There were practical reports and a final exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Fire in Australian Ecosystems
Course Department:	Environmental Systems
Instructor:	Tina Bell
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was somewhat challenging without having any environmental science background. Field trips included going to fire analysis labs, other USyd campuses, and the World Heritage national park (the Blue Mountains) to see recently burned areas. There was a paper, three practical reports and a final exam.
Credit Transfer Issues: