This is just my opinion, not scientifically demonstrable fact, BUT, I think the one of the worst ways to come out of school is having never done anything exciting, fun, or 'different'.

A summer program may help significantly in gaining access to those schools down the line, but I would be surprised if your time in Australia didn't become a talking point when you enter the job market. Certainly whenever we interview entry-level people we're more interested in where they've been and what they've seen than what software they can use (but maybe that's just us). Stepping out of the ordinary for a while will give you perspective which can be useful both to yourself and to a firm.

And, of course, you may love the place or the program, and it could change your life in unexpected ways.

I also see (from the 30 seconds I spent on the website) that they offer a mixed 'Bachelor of Industrial Design, Bachelor of Management' program - which could be great to try out, if that's an option.

Your obviously at Ryerson for Interior design so why don't you contact pervious students that went to that university, and get their opinion.

Also if you know 100% you want to do a masters in architecture plant the seed now and go for the summer program. This is a really personal decision but for me a no brainer.

Trust me getting in the summer programs are not easy and if you do then getting a visa amazing to work or study.

good luck on your decision but whatever you do don't base it on pure "fun"...and which ever you decide will be a new experience!

Thanks for the responses.

The thing is every year the universities that we can go to for exchange change. So I don't think anyone currently at our university has gone to the University of South Australia for exchange.

As for the mixed B. Industrial Design and Management program, I don't have the option to take that. I'll be joining the third year Interior Architecture class in their second semester.

As exciting as traveling to Australia sounds, I've always wanted to live in New York... but I see that in my immediate future, and I'll probably never go to Australia again. But on the other hand, what's in Adelaide? It doesn't sound like a major city like Melbourne or Sydney.

In the end it really comes down to which one will be a greater asset to me. I feel like the Intro to Arch program could be extremely beneficial, both in what I'll learn, the people I'll meet and the overall experience of living in New York. The courses at UniSA don't seem to be terribly different than what I would be and have been doing at Ryerson now... but it's a chance to experience a different culture and travel.

I hate being stuck on the fence.