Program Reviews

Since returning from studying abroad, there have been a few questions I get asked a lot about how I made the most of my experience. I think this information will be more helpful to prospective study abroad students than me declaring my undying love for the city of London, so I'll just focus on the practical aspects that contributed positively to my experience.

A huge part of this was getting to know both international and domestic students. This took a bit more effort than meeting people in my IFSA program, since we had orientation together and got to know each other through that. At Queen Mary, I mostly connected with international and domestic students through our interactions living in flats on campus (and in our kitchen, where new friends helped me not fail at cooking). I loved my trips to Paris and Rome with my friends, but honestly my favorite memories abroad were simple moments with my flat mates in our kitchen. I also met British students because I was enrolled in pretty interactive theater classes, which really helped me bond with classmates. I would definitely recommend asking people to go see plays with you, since they're usually really cheap and can be an awesome way to get your feet wet in the culture (my favorite venues include the Young Vic Theater and Stratford East). If you are in any writing classes that have a workshop format, that's also been a great way that I've gotten to know people. Sharing your writing outside of class and meeting for coffee is an amazing way to make friends with similar passions/interests!

I've also been asked a lot about IFSA's staff and the kind of support they provided for us, and I can answer unequivocally that I absolutely loved my IFSA staff in London! We bonded playing hand games on the train to our Lake District trip and had really nice chats over coffee when they visited campus. They were always ready to answer our questions and give us great travel/London living tips. We felt totally supported, and looked forward to seeing staff at IFSA student events.

I studied abroad through IFSA at the university of Melbourne in the fall of 2018. It was such an amazing experience, it's hard to put into words! After a long flight, I was immediately greeted by IFSA staff and we had program orientation in Sydney for three days. The place we stayed at overlooked the Sydney harbor, and on our last day we had a wonderful dinner cruise on a boat. Then I flew to Melbourne with 10 or so other students studying at the University of Melbourne with me, who became some of my closest friends during the semester. The community I became a part of at my college, International House, was so inviting. It always had fun events and activities to take part in, including a theater production! Throughout the semester my IFSA program leader, Lindsey, was super supportive and helped us all adjust to our classes and new environment. Before I knew it, the semester was over but I had met so many new friends and made amazing memories exploring Melbourne and other parts Australia.

My time at Oxford through IFSA truly changed my life for the better. The program is an incredibly unique opportunity to immerse yourself in incredibly rigorous academics, work one-on-one with experts in your respective field, receive the benefits of and be treated as a full-time student at Oxford, and throw yourself into a revered culture. Yet, for all the intimidating focus on a rich history in academia, Oxford (and IFSA's efforts to accommodate you) makes for a very welcoming, supportive environment.

I really enjoyed the way that this program pushed me outside my comfort zone while maintaining a sense of helpful encouragement. I never felt like my hand was being held, but everyone involved in this Visiting Student program really made an effort to check in on you, point you in the right directions, and make sure you were getting the most out of your experience. On top of that, the student community is incredibly welcoming--the university is fairly multicultural, so visiting students are not the only ones coming in from different countries and cultures, and full-time students really make an effort to befriend and include you. This supportive environment was very important to me while being away from home in a foreign place for an extended period of time!

Some of the specifics that you will get out of this program come from the ability to tailor your academic experience and take full advantage of all student benefits. The tutorial system allows you to handpick which areas of study you wish to explore, making for very unique learning that is completely dictated by you and your tutor. The work is, essentially, graduate-level but very rewarding, and your resources within the university are endless. Additionally, students have access to numerous lectures, talks, seminars, and other academic aids that are definitely worth taking full advantage of. Not to mention the extra-curriculars--Oxford has a ton of clubs, sports, trips, formals, dinners, common rooms, famous speakers, shows, museums, parks, and activities to partake in! In this program, you can join any of those even as a visiting student. I rowed for my college and played baseball for the university, which was really fun and a great way to make friends.

Aside from organized events through the program, living alongside the full-time students lets you have a very fun social life. It is really great to be fully immersed with them, and I made a lot of friends just by using our shared kitchen in housing, going to meals in hall together, or hanging out in my college's common room. There is definitely a work-hard, play-hard mentality--students were quick to invite me out clubbing during the week, to grab a pint at some of the local pubs, or to go to formal cocktail hours. While there are definitely a lot more champagne and black tie events mixed in than at my home university, the social scene is not lacking in the slightest!

Overall, IFSA's program at Oxford is an incredible experience. I absolutely loved my time there and am still reaping the benefits today. Not only is it a great talking point on your resume, but the skills I gained have carried into how I conduct myself every day. I am more confident, independent, and willing to throw myself into hard work. Very highly recommend it!

I spent the Fall 2018 semester in Havana, Cuba and had a fun a transformative experience. I was expecting my semester to mostly improve my Spanish abilities, which it did, but I also gained new skills in general. Havana is a very safe city and because of that, I felt really comfortable being a solo female traveler and exploring the city on my own and with other young women, Cuban and American alike. My Spanish improved a lot, both because of my immersive university experience and because of the vibrant culture of chatting with nearly everyone you meet. I left my experience feeling rejuvenated and excited about returning to my University studies at home. Since returning, I've been focusing on Cuba more in my studies, which has been really great as I feel have a unique connection to this work. I would highly recommend this program for students who are looking for something special and different from the average study abroad experience.

Studying abroad in India was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I got to grow and explore myself in ways I didn't even know was possible. I got to participate in yoga and Bharatanatyam every week which was an amazing experience. Not only was it a great work out, but it made me feel connected to India's culture. Speaking of culture I got to enjoy the amazing, spicy, hot, and taste food of India. I am a vegetarian and most of the country is veg so I was in heaven. My host mom made the best chapati's. My host family is an important part of my experience, they really were my home away from home. They welcomed me and my roommate with open arms and I am so grateful for them. Traveling around India was obviously so cool. It was so interesting to see how different the country is from state to state. I had an internship when I was abroad through the IFSA program at the Epiphany Middle School. AT the school I taught two different classes, a dance class, and English class, and I also got the opportunity to write a script for the schools opening ceremony in November.

Everything about my study abroad experience was beyond what I could've hoped for — I made so many new friends, took interesting and challenging courses that aren't offered at my home university, and had the opportunity to go on most of the cultural events and trips offered by my program. One part of my experience that I wasn't prepared to have enjoyed to the degree that I did, however, was the my experience at the university. What surprised me most about the University of Sydney was how comfortable I felt at such a large university. My home university is a small, liberal arts college in rural upstate New York, so I figured that the transition to a large, urban university would be shocking at least. What I found however, was that even though it was a large university, it still had a campus, and even though my lectures were larger than I had ever experienced, I was still able to connect with my teachers and classmates through tutorial sessions. These two aspects of the University of Sydney shocked me the most because they made such a large university feel like more of a community than I could've anticipated.

I spent last semester at the University of Auckland through IFSA-Butler. Reflecting back on my study abroad experience it was four and a half months I would not trade. I was able to go because my school already had a partnership with IFSA-Butler. It meant that I would receive a transcript from Butler University and not the University of Auckland. This partnership insured all of my classes were accepted by my home university. When first arriving in New Zealand, I received an on-site orientation at a Regional Park, which allowed me to have three days to become accustomed to the time zone, climate, nature, some of my future friends, hiking, food, and so much more. We spent time broken up into our specific schools where we learned about the cities we were going to, the universities, hiking, food, etc. Then at the end of the time we were all escorted to our specific living arrangements in each city by our Student Services Coordinator. They then helped us find the local grocery store and buy groceries for the week. The Student Services Coordinator led us through the University of Auckland's orientation a few days later. As well as, having onsite meet-ups with the group, where they would bring snacks and create a space of familiarity. There were also IFSA-Butler sponsored events throughout the program, which were covered in the program fees. My favorite was the weekend trip to Lake Taupo where we went whitewater rafting and sailing.

My time in Australia was absolutely incredible. I fell in love with Sydney and also had the opportunity to travel to numerous other locations in Australia and New Zealand. I met so many amazing people along the way who helped me understand Australian culture as well as rethink my own culture at home. I have nothing but good things to say about IFSA. From the moment we were accepted into the program, they helped us every step of the way. They not only walked us through important requirements and logistics of traveling (Visa, packing lists, travel documents, etc.), but they helped prepare us mentally, emotionally, and culturally by asking us to reflect on our identity, values, goals, and so on. When in Sydney, we became so close with our IFSA program directors. I really enjoyed getting to know them and they were always there for us when we needed them. IFSA also provided us with amazing opportunities, such as visiting the Opera House, wildlife sanctuary, the Blue Mountains, an Aussie sporting event, and a homestay weekend. I highly recommend attending each and every one of these activities - they were included in our program fees and provided moments of priceless cultural immersion. IFSA also prepared us for our experiences returning home. IFSA constantly prioritized our individual experiences, identities, and thoughts and opinions, which was so beneficial in every aspect.

My experience at the University of Adelaide through IFSA afforded me an opportunity to integrate into a foreign culture and education system, learn to live and thrive in an inner city setting, and forge strong relationships with individuals from another country and background. The IFSA coordinator living in Adelaide and teaching our Community and Culture class was an excellent mentor, and facilitated our integration into this Australian community effectively and effortlessly. Adelaide is a beautiful and charming city, spilling over with diversity and multicultural influence among its winding rivers and bustling streets. IFSA's program simultaneously enlightened me to the history and culture of both my city and the broader scope of Australia, as well as taught important skills towards independence and exploration of all Adelaide had to offer beyond the classroom.

My semester in Australia with IFSA's program at the University of Melbourne was one of the best of my life. IFSA's staff is incredibly helpful in ensuring that we have all the support we need, whenever we might need it. I tend to be a pretty independent person and didn't rely too much on their help, but it was always extremely comforting to know that our advisors in the city would be there if anything did come up. IFSA also facilitates a lot of fun excursions and trips for those who want to get to know the cohort a bit better.

While Sydney is the most famous Australian city to global audiences, there are numerous reasons to pick Melbourne. Sydney is beautiful (it has its harbor, the opera house, the bridge), but Melbourne is (in my opinion) the better city to live in. Melbourne has been ranked the most livable city in the world by The Economist for seven years in a row--and for good reason. The transit options are fantastic, the nightlife is vibrant (with none of the lock-out laws that inhibit Sydney's nightlife), and the arts and culture are endless. Sydney is Australia's financial hub, but Melbourne is known for its artistic side. It is phenomenally easy to get around, including by foot, and also has more to offer in terms of good food and music.

The University of Melbourne is a great place to study as an exchange student. The university has several support systems in place for students from abroad, including a course registration help center that is extremely easy to use. There is also an exchange student club on campus called MUSEx, which organizes a lot of pub crawls, parties, and trips that are all really fun. I enjoyed getting to know students from all over the world through such programming.

In terms of academics, I found the coursework at UniMelb to be engaging, but far less stressful than my classes back home. You are only allowed to take up to four classes, and I chose two in urban design/architecture and two in Indigenous Studies. I got to know 3 of my 4 professors very well and still keep in touch with them regularly! I also interned at a small urban design consultancy in Melbourne, through which I got to know a lot about Australian governance, culture, and design. I loved working with local colleagues and partaking in office activities a few times per week!

Beyond that, my semester in Melbourne afforded my many opportunities to travel, and I ended up having many of the most amazing travel experiences of my life, including skydiving over the Whitsundays, scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, biking around Uluru and Rottnest Island, driving the Great Ocean Road, and many more! I could not more highly recommend a semester in Melbourne!