Hi! My name is Carolina Alvarez, and I’m a sophomore majoring in psychology with a business minor. Last semester, I applied for an exchange program at the University of Sydney in Australia on a whim.
Initially, I went through the lengthy application process on the off-chance I would be accepted. But as I researched housing, explored course options and even started planning trips, I became more excited about the possibility of studying abroad.
Everything seemed to be falling into place until December. My cousin, whom I had planned to room with at the University of Sydney, decided to attend the University of Melbourne instead. Suddenly, the reality of going alone hit me in full force. But instead of letting the change in plans discourage me, I embraced the adventure ahead.
My semester at the University of Sydney began on February 24, giving me plenty of time with my family and the opportunity to save some money before starting my studies. Since Asia was “on the way” to Australia, I decided to take a trip with my cousin to explore different cities and countries over two weeks.
Hopping from place to place, I got a real glimpse of what the other side of the world has to offer — rich cultures, deep historical roots, a perfect balance of tradition and modernity, and, of course, incredible food.
After my travels in Asia, it was time to settle into my new reality as a student in Sydney. I am currently living in a residential college called Mandelbaum House.
Mandelbaum houses 40 students of all different ages. Each student has their own room, shares a communal bathroom with four to six people, and has access to a living room shared by 12 students.
There is a dining room that serves three prepared meals daily. As Mandelbaum residents say, “When attending a university of around 70,000 students, it is nice to go home to a family of 40.”
At university, I’m taking four classes — or, as people here call them, units of study. I got lucky with my schedule and only have classes from Tuesday to Thursday, giving me plenty of time to explore the city and discover new beaches. My courses include two psychology units, an economics unit and a finance unit. As university here lasts only three years, the increase in workload and depth from year to year is noticeable.
One aspect I’m really enjoying at the University of Sydney is the course structure, which includes both a lecture and a tutorial. Lectures are like those at The University of Texas at Austin, with large auditoriums packed with more than 100 students.
Tutorials, however, are small, interactive sessions with about 20 students where we practice what we’ve learned. I’ve found these incredibly helpful because they force me to apply my knowledge, provide a space to clarify doubts and, best of all, create opportunities to make friends in my classes.
In my free time, I’ve been taking small road trips to slowly explore more of this country. I visited Port Stephens this past weekend, home to massive sand dunes and a stunning beach.
So far, my favorite destination has been the famous Figure Eight Pools. My friends and I hiked there without fully knowing what to expect, and when we finally reached the natural rock pools, we were completely blown away by their beauty.
To wrap things up, I want to encourage all of you to take the leap and study abroad. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and UT Austin offers so many programs that there’s truly something for everyone.
Take it from me, just two weeks in: I came here knowing no one, and that’s part of the adventure. You’ll make friends, discover new places and grow in unexpected ways. So, if you’re even considering studying abroad, go for it!
This post was contributed by Carolina Alvarez, a Global Ambassador for Spring 2025. Carolina is a sophomore studying abroad in Sydney, Australia.
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