Studying abroad in Australia: The best decision of my Life. Past Review
By Kelsey C (Biology, University of Maryland - College Park) for
The Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Sydney - University of Sydney
My study abroad experience was absolutely amazing, I had the best time of my life and learned so much about different cultures and schooling systems. Although studying abroad does not really obtain to my future plans at all I still think it was a very worthwhile experience and wouldn't give it back for anything.
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I often did not go to lecture because the teachers provided recording of the lectures and the power points associated with them all online which made going to class not completely necessary. The tutorials however I always attended and the majority of the time found very interesting. The grading system was very different from my home university in that the grades most people received were overall a lot lower than normal but apparently that is the norm there. The workload is very different than I am used to because I had almost no tests but instead a lot of lengthy essays, which being a biology major, I am used to having the exact opposite. Overall I was very satisfied with the University. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Education Abroad Network staff was amazing, very helpful and fun people. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartments provided by the education abroad network were very nice. Everything you needed was provided for you, sheets, towels, laundry detergent, soap, etc. The location was nice because it was located very close to Bondi Beach, however a little far from the university (about 40 minutes). |
| * Food: |
There was a grocery store right across the street from my apartment building so I mostly ate the same foods I do at home because I almost always cooked my own meals. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Seeing a show at the opera house is a must do before leaving Sydney. I also loved how we got to climb the harbor bridge as part of our Sydney orientation through TEAN. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I felt very safe in Bondi Junction, and had no safety related incidents the entire time I was there. |
| 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) |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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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 believe that any student could benefit to studying abroad with TEAN it was overall an amazing experience and had no major restrictions to majors or classes making it easy to study abroad with almost any major. |
