There are so many things I gained from my time abroad but the most important thing I gained from my experience was independence. It takes a lot of guts to fly across the world, not knowing a single person, for 5 months and be okay. It was definitely worthwhile and I would highly recommend it. I met so many amazing people that I will now be friends with for the rest of my life. While abroad I got to travel to 3 differnt countries with so many of my new friends and had the time of my life doing so. I have so many valuable stories and life experiences becuase I chose to go abroad, and not just go abroad, but do it through TEAN!

I absolutely loved my study abroad experience with The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) at the University of Sydney. TEAN staff was so helpful in answering any questions or worries I had before going abroad up until the day I left. Once I landed in Australia, I attended the TEAN orientation, which was such a blast! We spent time learning about Australian culture, the logistics of the next 4 months of our lives, getting to know the other students in the program, and doing crazy activities like Skydiving and canyoning. This was the perfect way to start my study abroad adventure, where I soon ended up in Sydney. TEAN organized for about 20 students in the program to live together in apartments right in the city within walking distance of school, grocery stores, malls, the train station, and so many tourist sights! I also had such a great experience at the University of Sydney were I learned so much by being in a classroom everyday with Aussie students. TEAN also set up lots of events throughout the semester for all of the students in the area including surfing at the famous Bondi Beach, a day at Luna Park (an amusement park), a tour of the Sydney Opera House, jet boating around the harbor, an end-of-the-semester dinner cruise, and so much more! It was a great way to spend time with the other students in the program as well as see more of the city. They also organized a fun trip to Melbourne, which is another big city in Australia, which I absolutely loved! Having to say goodbye to all of my new best friends and a city I fell in love with at the end of the semester was so hard. I would absolutely recommend this program, as I had the time of my life and I'm sure you will too!

Studying abroad in Sydney was definitely one of the best decisions I ever made! There's so much to do in and around the city and by going through TEAN I was given so many more opportunities to learn about the city and to interact with locals. I attended the University of Sydney so I lived near Central Station, pretty much in the middle of the city. This location was so awesome for me because there was so much around my apartment and I was only a walk to my classes and a short train or bus ride away from everything else. Should you choose to go to the University of Sydney, UTS, or The University of Notre Dame in Sydney, it's most likely that you'll live in this area too as it's convenient to all of these schools. Being in this part of Sydney was really cool because it gave you that big city feel but you were also close to Bondi Beach, Coogee, Manly and several other beaches so that the city itself didn't become too overwhelming. On the other hand, if you choose to go to the University of New South Wales, you're likely to live in either Coogee or in Bondi Junction. I had several friends attending UNSW living in Coogee that loved where they lived and I can attest that the area was convenient to their campus, even closer to beaches, and it seemed to have a lot right in and around their too. Regardless of where you choose to go to school though public transit is super easy to figure out and really convenient so that you can get anywhere!

In my free time, I loved going to all the beaches, eating at some amazing places (Harry's in Bondi is delicious), taking the ferry to Manly Beach- they had pretty good shopping over there, and all around exploring the city. Some of the must-do's of Sydney include the Opera House of course, Bondi to Coogee walk, the Harbour Bridge Climb, Taronga Zoo, Luna Park, Bondi Icebergs Pool, the weekend markets in The Rocks, the Figure 8 pools - harder to get out to but if you can do it, I definitely recommend. If you're into museums Sydney also has a plethora of different types for you to choose from. I also got the opportunity to go see a concert in the Sydney Olympic Park which was a really cool experience. But, without TEAN I wouldn't have been able to do some of the awesome things that I did. They took us surfing at Bondi Beach, to a show at the Opera House, kayaking in the Sydney Harbour amongst other things. They're so awesome about giving unique opportunities that I don't think I would have otherwise been able to do.

What I also loved about my experience with TEAN is that at orientation I not only met the people who would be in my city, I also met people who'd be studying at universities all over Australia which gave me tons of people to see and places to stay when traveling!

In terms of nightlife, Sydney has so many different types of clubs and bars to choose from. Ivy is probably one of the most well-known clubs, it even has a rooftop pool. The Argyle in The Rocks is also really fun and afterward stop and get some pancakes in the Rocks. Darling Harbour is great both during the day and at night boasting tons of restaurants, bars, and clubs. Coogee Pavilion is also great for happy hour.

Studying abroad with TEAN was the best decision I have ever made. I learned more about the world, life, and myself in that short amount of time than I could have in years. There is nothing more valuable that having the opportunity to see the world, and that is exactly what TEAN gave me. From the temples of Thailand to the beaches of Bali and back to the amazing city of Sydney, I met the most amazing people, had the best experiences, and lived and laughed more than I ever thought possible. TEAN set me up for a lifechanging experience and for that I am forever greatful. I will never forget my days studying, living, and loving life as a ~temporary~ Australian!

When I decided on The Education Abroad Network program in Sydney, Australia, I had no idea that was the first of many great steps in my abroad journey. Sydney not only opened my eyes to a world of culture, but also offered a feeling of confidence and independence I didn’t think I had. Living about a 15-20 minute walk to Central Station gave me the opportunity to hop on the next train or bus to anywhere I could think of! Several trips to Bondi beach, exciting new gelato shops, and even visits to the Rocks Markets near the Opera House were just a small portion of my greater journey. Australia soon became my home away from home, offering adventures I could have never dreamed and roommates that became best friends. By choosing TEAN I chose a team that was willing to make my study abroad experience unique, safe, and exciting. While they offered countless excursions around Sydney, some of my favorite moments with TEAN’s team were during our “coffee catch-ups” where we discussed our experiences, local culture, and ideas for even more adventures. If you’re looking for adventure, in a place to call home, with people who care about your study abroad experience, then I suggest TEAN Australia.

Studying at ICMS was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I am so fortunate to have experienced. Trust me when I say don't let the anxiety of not knowing anyone in a foreign land stop you from taking the leap. The growth that comes along with this journey is unparalleled to anything you would have seen/done at your home school during the same semester.

The connections I made were worth the trip alone. However the many excursions along the way added immensely to it. The day before I went skydiving me and some friends ventured to a nearby cliff jumping spot from the school. It was my first time, and I was on the ledge for a good 10 minutes wondering why I signed up to jump out of a plane if I couldn't do this. Well eventually I did it, and jumped out of the plane, as over many other mental hurdles that were holding me back.

This trip taught me a lot about myself, and I'm confident it will do the same for anyone else.
Highly recommended 10/10

I absolutely loved going through TEAN for my abroad experience. Not only were they very responsive and super helpful before I left for Australia (I called them more times than the average person because I was so excited/nervous/anxious), but they also were very hands-on once I got to Australia.

I loved participating in the pre-orientation program at Uluru. It gave me the chance to meet some of my best friends abroad and explore the Australian “outback” before I settled into Sydney. The program was just long enough that I was exposed to everything that Uluru/Ayer’s Rock had to offer, but not too long that it got boring.

What I really appreciated was the continued communication with TEAN throughout my time abroad. Since I was studying slightly further away from most of the other Sydney Universities, Caroline took everyone at ICMS out to lunch twice to discuss how the program was and if there was anything she could help with. This continued touchpoint really proved how much TEAN cares about the students they send abroad.

Hands down one of the best experiences of my life and I owe TEAN a lot of that.

I absolutely loved my 5 month long study abroad experience through TEAN. I lived in the heart of Sydney and studied at UTS. Every day was a new adventure, whether it was walking to Darling Harbour, taking the train to Circular Quay to a) stare at the Opera House or b) take a ferry to Manly Beach or Watsons Bay or c) walk around The Rocks, hike in the Blue Mountains and Royal National Park, doing the Bondi-Coogee coastal walk, or traveling to other cities in Australia, and other countries such as New Zealand and Thailand. TEAN staff members were ALWAYS accessible and readily available if we ever needed anything from my first day in Sydney to the last. Overall, my Sydney study abroad experience was unbelievable and indescribable, and I wish I could do it all over again!!