My favorite part of this program was traveling and meeting new people. I loved exploring Australia - it is such a diverse, beautiful country, with stunning beaches, world-famous coral reefs, beautiful rainforests, and rugged desert landscapes. It was such an incredible experience meeting people from all different countries and backgrounds, and experiencing a way of life different from my own. Every day was an adventure.

The University of New South Wales was a really prestigious school in the center of one of the greatest cities in the world. Not to mention, it was right next to the beach.

Aside from exploring Sydney, the best part of my study abroad experience was having the chance to live with students from several different countries and experience a variety of different cultures. UNSW places a great deal of emphasis on their exchange programs, which makes it a great place to meet people from all over the world.

My favorite part of the program itself was the college that I got to live in- Baxter College at UNSW in Sydney, Australia. The environment was incredibly fun and inclusive and I got to be friends with people from all over the world since living there.

Simply living in Sydney and learning how to function in a big city was a great learning experience for me personally. Attending a university in a big city was a sharp contrast to my experiences at KU, so it required an adjustment period but was ultimately extremely rewarding.

Traveling inside and outside my host country of Australia was the most rewarding part of my study abroad experience. Also meeting people from around the world allowed me to learn about many different cultures.

The university system in Australia is very different. Both in terms of grading and teaching methods, you may find that you're not able to achieve the same level of success that you have at KU. I would not recommend attending UNSW if you're not able to handle criticism from instructors, as UNSW employs relatively high profile architects as its studio instructors so the studio environment can be very intense. I learned a tremendous amount while at UNSW, but it was certainly difficult at times and the program probably isn't a good fit for everyone.

In terms of living at UNSW, I would NOT recommend living in university housing. It's extremely expensive and you won't have the same opportunities to meet other international students. Most Australian students live at home, and many of the European students opt to live in sharehouses in the surrounding suburbs. I lived near the beach in a house with students from the US, Denmark, England, and a few other countries. It was one of the best decisions that I have ever made.

Advise that I would give to future study abroad students would be to focus on school, but not too much. You're across the globe to learn so much more than whatever you're learning in the classroom. Take time to travel, really get to explore your host city, be spontaneous, take rewarding risks, and make meaningful relationships with all different kinds of people.