The best experience of my life and if i never did it, i know i would regret it Past Review
By A student (Civil Engineering., University of Hartford) - abroad from 02/22/2013 to 07/01/2013 with
ISA Study Abroad in Sydney, Australia
The first thing you learn is to be independent. This experience helps you so much learn about yourself and doing stuff alone. You learn about so many other cultures and people even from different parts of the states. . I gained so much knowledge about other cultures and how they also see me. I learned that i can handle this. This experience honestly makes you see yourself differently. also this trip is kinda like a bubble from the outside world like back home
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. |
The grading here is a little different than back home in the States so it takes some getting used too. Their grading is also a little harder to achieve high marks. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The study abroad office was very nice here and friendly trying to help out all the international students |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved the house that was picked and the roommates that I do have. On the other hand, we did have some issues with bed bugs and it took a great deal of emailing the school and going over to housing to get them to do anything about it |
| * Food: |
The food is amazing here, especially the thai but everything also costs more. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Everyone here is welcoming and wants to know where everyone is from because of our accent. it is a great place to come |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I had no experience with the healthcare but they seemed good. |
| * Safety: |
Where i live in a safe area and i haven't had any problems but i do know not to be stupid. Like do not walk alone late or hangout in shady areas. I mean there will always be creepy people and my friends almost was in a very bad situation so just be safe. |
| 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) |
sydney is a very expensive area and i live out of the city but still. You do have to realize that food here and basically everything else is more expensive than back home. So if you do not eat out as much and dont spend a lot during the week you can manage by having weeks at a time where you dont spend anything or just on groceries. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | try not to eat out a lot or if you do, go on days where the restaurants have deals. also if you are planning to go out, do not spend money at the bars and take a bus home not cabs |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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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| 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? | I wish i knew about the grading and knew more about housing before i came here eventhough it worked out perfectly. Also like what other people were doing. I know that we had a facebook group but still people were shy and they def should make one for each school separately also to make it more personal. maybe like more about the nationality breakdown within the school so it would be easier to have met more australian people |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
