Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

You Have To Study Abroad Down Under Past Review

By (University of Iowa) - abroad from 01/03/2014 to 04/18/2014 with

WorldStrides Study Abroad in Gold Coast, Australia

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained experience that I wouldn't have if I stayed in the US at my American school. I gained more than insight and friendships from traveling and meeting international students and hearing other stories from locals my age.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing was probably the nicest I will live in for a very long time. There was weekly cleaning service, great location, and had everything you ever wanted.

* Food:

Brekkie is big down there, and VERY good! There is a everything you could think of. Guzman y Gomez is the equivalent to Chipotle, and there are many asian restaurants.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It is different at first but easy to adjust into the culture. Mostly similar norms to the United States but

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any health care experiences but we did have full coverage insurance that was affordable and made me feel confident that I was in good hands.

* Safety:

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save every penny until you get there.

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 freedom to travel wherever I wanted
  • They made it very easy for us to get over to Australia and experience Sydney during our orientation
  • They are a very reputable program that has won best program awards
* What could be improved?
  • I can't think of anything off the top of my head
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew more about the Gold Coast and what it had to offer. The Gold Coast has MANY hidden gems, and I feel like the best way to find them is to meet locals and talk to past study abroad students, like me!

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.