A year ago, I would've told you I was studying abroad in Florence or Madrid with my best friends. Instead, I spent my semester in Sydney, Australia. I'm Cassie Esco, a senior studying marketing and management at TCU's Neeley School of Business, and I'm originally from Brentwood, CA. This post is for anyone who might need to hear that studying abroad is worth the leap, even when it doesn't look the way you expected.

I always knew I wanted to study abroad. My older brother, Alex, studied abroad four times in college, and ever since then it sat in the back of my mind as something I had to experience. I later found out I was in good company: roughly 40% of TCU students study abroad before they graduate. I just didn't expect to be one of the ones who ended up on the opposite side of the world.

TCU offers a wide range of study abroad programs. You can go for a full semester like I did, or choose a summer or "Maymester" program if a shorter window fits your life better. You can go as far as Australia or Asia, or you can settle into European favorites like Italy or Spain. With so many options and counselors dedicated to helping you find the right fit, choosing a program is the hardest part.

One meeting and one phone call changed everything. Early in the fall semester of my junior year, I attended a study abroad information session to get answers to my burning questions. I walked out with more options than I knew what to do with. So, I called my brother for help. Together, we made a list of what I wanted from this experience and went through each program one by one. Everything kept pointing to Australia, a continent I had never visited and knew almost nothing about, other than the accents and the surfing culture.

A full semester made sense for me, but I know it isn't realistic for everyone. Some of my friends couldn't be away that long because of major requirements, athletic seasons or other commitments, so they did a summer program or a Maymester instead and still came back with great stories. There's a format that fits almost any schedule, which is part of why I'd encourage anyone on the fence to look at the options instead of assuming it won't work for them.

Once the decision was made, everything moved fast. I completed the paperwork, got my visa, enrolled in classes, and booked my flight to Sydney. Financial aid applied to my program, and my credits transferred back, so it didn't set me back financially or academically the way I’d feared. The anticipation was unreal. I had never been on a 15‑hour flight, so I prepared the best I could: neck pillow, eye mask, snacks, the whole routine. After Christmas break, it was finally time to hug my family goodbye and step into this new chapter completely on my own. Because Australia's seasons run opposite to ours, I landed in the middle of their summer term, so what felt like the dead of winter back home was warm, sunny, and in full swing in Sydney.

When I landed, I knew instantly that I had made the right choice. Yes, I was nervous about being homesick or not meeting the right people, but within the first week I was completely in love with Sydney. And a few months later, that love took me somewhere I didn't expect: back to a part of my own family history. My mom is originally from Indonesia, and being based in Sydney meant Southeast Asia was suddenly within reach in a way it never had been from the States. I ended up visiting twice, reconnecting with relatives I rarely get to see and discovering a part of myself I had only ever heard stories about. It's one of the parts of this semester I'll carry with me the longest.

Academics at the University of Sydney

To nobody’s surprise, the University of Sydney ended up being an incredible academic environment. Since I arrived during their summer term, I only took one class at first, which made everything feel a lot less overwhelming. It gave me time to adjust to their class structure and find a routine that worked for me.

My classes introduced me to locals and other international students who immediately made me feel welcome. They showed me their favorite study spots, the best coffee on campus, beaches I needed to visit, and all the little niche things I wouldn’t have found on my own. They also helped me understand the parts of Australian schooling that confused me at first, especially the grading scale. I remember getting my first assignment back and thinking I had done terribly, only to learn their system is completely different from the U.S. system. Having people around who understood it and were willing to explain made such a difference.

By the end of the semester, the academic side of studying abroad became something I truly appreciated. What started out feeling intimidating turned into something that made me more adaptable and confident. I wasn’t just learning course material. I was learning how to navigate a totally new academic world, and that ended up being one of the most rewarding parts of my time in Sydney.

Navigating Life in a New Country

When I arrived in Sydney, I had a long list of things I wanted to experience: the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, learning how to surf, seeing a show at the Opera House, climbing the Harbour Bridge, finding kangaroos in the wild, and exploring every corner of the city. But before any of that could happen, I had to learn how to navigate daily life in a completely new country.

The first step was understanding how Sydney actually works. I had to figure out the public transportation system, learn the neighborhoods, and adjust to cultural norms that were different from what I was used to. For example, Australians don’t have a tipping culture, and many cafes and restaurants add weekend surcharges. I also learned that responding to “thank you” with “you’re welcome” can feel overly formal. Instead, everyone says “no worries,” and it quickly became part of my vocabulary. In a lot of ways, adjusting to life in Sydney felt similar to moving away to college freshman year. You’re excited and curious, but you’re also navigating unfamiliar routines while being far from home.

One thing that made the transition easier was how safe Sydney felt. I never had a day when I questioned my safety, which gave me the confidence to explore more freely. I learned the bus, train, and metro system faster than I expected, and it became second nature. I lived in the city, so I relied on public transport to get to the beach, but those rides ended up being some of my favorite moments. Sitting on the bus with my headphones in, watching people go about their day while I headed toward the ocean, made me feel like I was truly part of the city.

Everyone’s experience adjusting to a new country looks different, but the best advice I received before going abroad was that you get out of the experience what you put into it. I kept that in mind throughout the semester. I made an effort to embrace this new place fully, and by the end, Sydney became a second home.

Travel Highlights 

One of the biggest differences between studying abroad in Australia and studying abroad in Europe is the travel culture. My friends who went to Europe were able to hop on a train and spend every weekend in a new country. Australia doesn’t work like that. Everything is spread out, and you can’t just take a quick trip to another country. But the amazing part is that Australia itself has so much to explore, and being close to Asia opens the door to experiences you might never have considered.

Even though I wasn't traveling every weekend, I planned trips that were meaningful and allowed me to immerse myself in completely different environments. I visited Indonesia twice to spend time with my mom's side of the family. It remains one of the most special parts of my semester, and one I'd encourage anyone with a similar connection abroad to make time for.

I also spent time exploring Australia's east coast, which became one of my favorite aspects of studying abroad. I visited Byron Bay, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Port Stephens. Each destination had its own personality and pace of life. Some places were all about surfing and laid-back beach culture, while others were full of art, food, and city energy. Each trip revealed a new side of Australia and reminded me just how much this country has to offer.

Visits From Home

My parents visited while I was abroad, and because Sydney is nearly a day ahead of California, seeing them in person after weeks of short calls felt grounding in a way I didn't expect. After her spring semester ended, one of my best friends from TCU came for a week and a half. We climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, made the trip up to Australia Zoo in Queensland to see kangaroos and koalas, and I got to watch her fall in love with the city the same way I had. It felt like my TCU life and my Sydney life blending together.

Take the Leap

For anyone considering studying abroad, my advice is simple: go for it. Apply even if none of your friends are doing it and you aren’t completely confident it’s the right choice. The truth is, you’ll never feel fully “ready,” but that’s exactly why it’s worth doing. Studying abroad is transformative. It teaches you about yourself, about others, and about the world in ways you can’t anticipate. Granted, it’s scary to leave home and step into something unfamiliar, but the value of pushing past that fear is immeasurable.

TCU makes the process easier than you might expect. There are scholarships, resources and advisors who want you to see the world. You're not alone in the application and visa process. You're supported every step of the way.

If you're thinking about TCU, ask your admission counselor about studying abroad. Choosing Sydney was one of the best decisions I made in college.

Cassie Esco ’ 27 is studying marketing and management at TCU's Neeley School of Business and is a marketing and communication assistant in the Office of Admission. She's from Brentwood, California.