How the University of Sydney Redefined My Learning Approach
Prior to going abroad, I anticipated the culture shock I would feel in all aspects of my daily life. However, I was not prepared for the culture shock that would come with university life in Australia.
My CEA CAPA program class on our first day in Australia!
My home university is the University of San Diego, but while in Australia, I am studying at the University of Sydney. USD is a tight-knit community of 5,000 undergraduate students, while USYD has 40,000 undergraduate students from all over the world! This jump in size meant adjusting to large lectures, less one-on-one help, and more assessment-based learning.
The University of Sydney campus in the spring.
Studying at Gardener's Lodge Cafe in between classes.
Although this shift was initially overwhelming, I have grown in my academic abilities so much. I now feel more adaptable and confident in different learning settings. Even though class sizes at USYD are so big, the university makes it a priority to provide additional support. I’ve had so many opportunities to get to know my professors and peers in a smaller setting through tutorials, which have fewer than 15 students. In tutorials, we engage in group projects and in-depth discussions, which make the lecture content much more digestible.
The Quadrangle, one of USYD’s most iconic spots!
My daily walk to class.
Writing an essay for my Global Literatures class at Cafe Zenius in Redfern.
Additionally, the unit coordinators for each of my classes regularly offer drop-in tutoring sessions, allowing me to get extra help when needed. This semester, I’m studying Global Literatures, Quantitative Business Analysis, and Business Law. I have learned so much from each of my professors and have met so many incredible people in all of my classes.
Walking with friends to class.
USYD’s beautiful architecture.
Studying at Taste Bakery on USYD’s campus.
Showing a visitor around campus.
I am currently gearing up for finals week, and I can’t wait to see how much more I will grow in my remaining time at USYD!