Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

If grades go well totally worth it. Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 07/23/2012 to 11/25/2012 with

University of Sydney: Sydney - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a ton about Aus. Also learned a bunch about different perspectives in politics and philosophy that are less American. Went traveling a fair amount which was amazing. SE Asia and NZ were great.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

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?

Lived off campus with a friend from high school

* Food:

hardly ever ate on campus. Was very expensive, like everything in Sydney.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Lived in Coogee with a bunch of US students, sort of a bubble.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

always felt safe

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

way more than 200 a week. Sydney was the most expensive place I have ever been and I grew up in London.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 350 or so.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Buy groceries don't eat out.

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
  • International Students
* 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?
  • Living
  • Travel
  • Contents of Classes
* What could be improved?
  • TAs grading things
  • Expense
  • Grade Conversion
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That the UNSW to Midd grade transfer was easier then the USydney one, when they seem to have comparable programs. Would have been good to know as it does seem it may make a pretty large difference in my grades and GPA, which for good or bad is extremely important.

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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Contemporary Political Philosophy
Course Department: Philosophy
Instructor: Moira Gatens
Instruction Language: English
Comments: good and perfectly challenging.
Credit Transfer Issues: no
Course Name/Rating:

Globalization & National Governance
Course Department: Government
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The material was great. It was a bit dodgy having the TAs grade everything. My first test I got back I did poorly, however I had thought I had done well. I went to my actual professor and he bumped up my grade around 15 percent. Made me rather skeptical about the TAs and their grading.
Credit Transfer Issues: no. I would suggest to others they basically go to UNSW due to the easier grade conversion to Midd.
Course Name/Rating:

Comparative Politics of Ethnic Conflict
Course Department: Government
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Professor was a bit arrogant, decided we didnt need to do course evals because he knew what we were going to say. My TA also went MIA right before our big essay was due so another TA we had never interacted with graded them. This caused some issues.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Blood On the Wattle: Australian History
Course Department: History
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Informative basic history class on Australia. Was good. Almost a history of the history of Aus.
Credit Transfer Issues: