I spoke with Julia Goldsmith, a junior double majoring in marketing and management, who studied abroad in Sydney. She attended Macquarie University, a renowned university located in Sydney through a Tulane-sponsored exchange program.

Q: What drew you to Sydney?

I was drawn to Sydney because of the safety aspect with speaking the same language and I am a huge beach fan but also wanted to live in a city. Sydney was the perfect mix of beach and city.

Q: What are your classes like compared to classes at Tulane?

The business classes at Macquarie had a lot less assignments but grades were much stricter. The average would be in the low 60s and it was completely normal. It was also completely normal to only have 2 or 3 papers total that would make up your entire grade in the class. I only had class twice a week which was really nice.

Q: What’s a typical day like?

Since I only had class on Mondays and Tuesdays, I would typically spend those days on campus and walking around that area; the other days of the week I would spend at the beach or exploring cool areas around the city.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do in the city?

My favorite thing to do in the city is definitely the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. It took around 2 and a half hours and had the most incredible views, while getting a great workout. The walk was on the water and the trail went through 5 popular Sydney beaches. It was beautiful and a great way to spend my day.

Q: Where have you traveled so far?

I traveled to Thailand, Bali, New Zealand, and around Australia. In Thailand I traveled to koh Pha-ngan, koh samui, the phi phi islands, chiang mai, Phuket, and Bangkok. In New Zealand I traveled to Queenstown. In Australia I traveled to the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, and the Great Barrier Reef.

Q: What advice do you have for someone studying abroad with friends?

I studied abroad with a few good friends and it was amazing. It gave me a great sense of comfort in the beginning but it was also nice because we got to meet amazing people from other schools together. I would suggest going with one or two people you know because it can definitely make going somewhere as far as Australia feel a lot closer.

Q: What is something someone considering studying in Sydney should know?

If you are going to study in Sydney I would definitely live in Bondi or Coogee. The best beaches and restaurants are there. The public transportation in Sydney is very easy to use and makes it easy to go anywhere! Sydney is the best place in the world I would 100% recommend studying abroad there.

About Rachel Wine

Rachel Wine is our Editor in Chief and a lover of all things New Orleans! A few of her favorite things include film photography, traveling, and finding new restaurants to try.

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Rachel Wine is our Editor in Chief and a lover of all things New Orleans! A few of her favorite things include film photography, traveling, and finding new restaurants to try.