Go to Perth if you study in Australia!

While attending the University of Arizona I had the opportunity to study for one semester at the University of Western Australia in Perth. The remains one of the single best experiences I had during my undergraduate education and I would highly recommend considering Perth if you are interested in studying in Australia.
The University of Western Australia is one of the most prestigious universities in the world and attracts an extremely diverse and accomplished student body from all around the world. The campus is simply beautiful and often compared to Oxford or Harvard. The dorms (referred to as colleges) are extremely social and one will quickly be indoctrinated into the 'university' experience via a plethora of activities.

The city of Perth is also beautiful and remains one of my favorite places I have had the chance to visit. You will learn that Perth is one of the most remote cities in the world; with a 2000 mile radius before finding another city equal it's size. That said, it is a city of nearly 1 million people and has all the night life and events one would expect from a city that large. Once you leave the city you quickly see that it is indeed remote and you will experience first hand the 'real' Australian Outback, something those that study in Sydney will unfortunately miss out on. There is great surfing and some of the most pristine and untouched beaches in and around the city. Perth is truly a hidden gem with many people living their whole lives in Australia and never visiting the city.

Lastly, for those considering using the University of Arizona's study abroad program I have only positive feedback for you there as well. I decided to go with only about 1 week before the deadline and the office did everything they could to expedite the process and get me into the program. The University of Western Australia has very high standards for admission and I was thankful for the support I received while navigating the admissions process. They were also helpful in coordinating my living arrangements in the dorm, however this was still a separate process from getting admitted to the program.

Many students from the United States study at the University of Western Australia and most (70%) come from programs run through either Butler or Beaver College. These programs take care of all of the arrangements including travel and even provide a 2 week tour of Australia prior to beginning classes. However, the downside is that these programs are extremely expensive and you pay Beaver or Butler directly. By utilizing the University of Arizona's program I actually spent less money by studying in Australia than I would have by paying out-of-state tuition for a semester at Arizona.
In summary, I highly recommend studying in Perth over nearly any other city in Australia. I also highly using the University of Arizona's study abroad program if you have the opportunity to use them. Lastly, if you do attend the University of Western Australia, make sure you attend the annual toga party,...you won't be sorry!