Worth Every Penny (Which is saying a lot) Past Review

By (University of Massachusetts Amherst) - abroad from 02/02/2012 to 06/26/2012 with

The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Sydney - University of New South Wales

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
So worthwhile. This was by far the best time in my life. I cannot even explain all the things I have learned. To put this experience to words is beyond my rhetoric.

Review Photos

Education Abroad Network: Sydney - University of New South Wales Photo Education Abroad Network: Sydney - University of New South Wales Photo Education Abroad Network: Sydney - University of New South Wales Photo Education Abroad Network: Sydney - University of New South Wales Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Some of the classes were interesting and just the right amount of challenging. The bad part was the strange grading system.

* 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?

I broke my foot. While it was a bit of a pain, everything worked out alright.

* Safety:

Everything was pretty good except one night we had an incident where a few friends and I tried to protect some guy who was mouthing off and ended up getting in a fight. We ended up having to give out statements to the police but it was all fine, nothing bad happened. No weapons (gun control is pretty good)

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)

This was the one problem, it was very expensive. You COULD cut a great deal of expenses if you never drink or rarely go out, but where is the fun in that?

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 200-400 depending on how many nights went out/ many other factors
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Drink boxed wine (Goon), don't go out to eat too much.

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
  • 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?
  • The people
  • The city
  • The Pre-Semester Cairns trip
* What could be improved?
  • The cost of living
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The grading. I would have taken easier classes.