Now that my IBEX program at UNSW has come to an end (and I'm officially back in the U.S.) I don't think it's nearly as important that I detail my Aussie adventure, but rather attempt to persuade to you embark on your own IBEX adventure.NYU site or IBEX?
Why not both? The great thing about Stern is that they make it really easy to do two semesters abroad. They give us tons of elective credits and the necessary resources to plan ahead. If done correctly, you can easily do two semesters abroad, fulfilled two majors/concentrations, and still come back to the NY campus with elective space!
Why IBEX?
Have you ever gone to a whole new country and not known a single person? Maybe this was your experience coming to NYU, maybe not. But IBEX offers you the opportunity to do so for the first time, or maybe even again. So why IBEX (DISCLAIMER: things are about to get cheesy)?
You'll engage with people from all around the world.
Now you're probably saying, 'but Jen, NYU is a global university with a diverse student body'. And I agree, NYU has one of the biggest populations of international students on any American campus, but a lot of our international students were educated in an American system. By doing IBEX, you are exposed to people that have studied under the Australian, Chinese, French, etc. education systems, with each bringing different experiences and perspectives.
You'll experience something completely new.
When else are you guaranteed to spend four months in a foreign country? Well.... probably never, so you might as well make the most of it. And if you go abroad, I can almost guarantee you won’t want to waste a second. What were some of mine? Surfing, scuba diving, beach bumming (in the middle of winter), new brunch spots, bubble soccer, new slang, new friends, new memories.
You'll explore the world (and yourself).
This is true for any study abroad. You get to see parts of the world that you never would have before. The difference between most NYU sites and IBEX is that you will most likely be a world apart from everyone and everything you know and find comfort in. This might scare off some people, but if you're up for an adventure, I promise you won't regret it for a moment.
If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me at jf2665@stern.nyu.edu!