Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Absolutely Unforgettable, wish I could go back every semester and live there. Past Review

By (Communication, University of Hartford) - abroad from 01/03/2013 to 04/22/2013 with

ISA Study Abroad in Gold Coast, Australia

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I not only learned a great deal about myself but also how to travel safely, how to better keep up with school work, and I learned a completely new way of life that has taught me to relax and go with the flow because sometimes that's all you can do. It was absolutely worthwhile, I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* 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)

With a meal plan I didn't have to worry about food as much, however I set aside more money for specific trips I knew I wanted to take and then tried to budget out the money I had left over for personal expenses.

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? It's best to go into your program knowing a few places you want to travel and setting aside the correct money, booking trips early will save you some and then figure out what you can spend the rest on.

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

  • Americans
* 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?
  • Program Orientation
  • Coordinators
  • The opportunites made available to us
* What could be improved?
  • Flight communication and details
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that the university I had picked was going to be mostly international students, a great deal of them from America. It wasn't impossible to make friends with locals but it certainly made it a bit harder.

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 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.