Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A Trip Not to Miss! Past Review

By (University of Maryland - College Park) - abroad from 02/09/2012 to 06/29/2012 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I wouldn't want to change anything about my semester in Sydney. I loved the experience of living a different lifestyle in a new culture, traveling more in the five months I was there than I have in my whole life, and making so many new friends that I can't wait to see back in the States. It's an opportunity you can't turn down!

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The grading system in Australia is hard to adjust to because it is so different from ours in the States. It seems disappointing to get a 70 on a paper, but a 70 in Australia is actually a good grade.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

TEAN was always available if you had any questions. Whether by email or phone, they were easy to get a hold of.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Couldn't have asked for better housing! Not only could we see the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Opera House from our apartment, but we were right over the Bondi Junction train and bus station to make getting around the city extremely easy.

* Food:

Food in Australia is very similar to ours... Pretty much anything you want to eat, you could find there also. It is an obligation to try a meat pie and kangaroo though!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The students in three of the four classes I took were primarily Australians which I really enjoyed. We also were able to integrate with the locals when going out and when we went to special events such as rugby games, the Opera, and plays.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I always felt safe in Sydney. To get to the University of Sydney, I took the train from Bondi Junction to Redfern, and Redfern is a little sketchy, but I never had to be there at night by myself.

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)

Things in Sydney are expensive, but you only go abroad once. It was all well worth it!

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
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 pre-semester trip to Cairns and the mid-semester trip to either Thailand or New Zealand that TEAN planned.
  • The TEAN orientation was great. We got acclimated to the city and did lots of fun things including climbing the Sydney Bridge, going to the Animal Park to meet kangaroos for the first time, and TEAN's version of the Amazing Race.
  • Living at Bondi Junction was perfect. I couldn't have asked for better roommates!
* What could be improved?
  • Nothing :)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Make sure to research the things you want to do and see in Australia while you're there before you get there! Plan trips early in the semester instead of waiting until the last minute and having to cram the things still on your have-to-see list in the last few weeks you're there.