Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The best study abroad experience I've ever had! Past Review

By (Biology, General., University of Tulsa) - abroad from 08/29/2014 to 12/10/2014 with

SIT Study Abroad: Australia - Rainforest, Reef, and Cultural Ecology

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I had already learned about most of the ecological concepts we studied during the semester, but the experiential knowledge and connections I made really helped me learn it in a way that I never could in a classroom.

Review Photos

SIT Australia: Rainforest, Reef, & Cultural Ecology Photo SIT Australia: Rainforest, Reef, & Cultural Ecology Photo SIT Australia: Rainforest, Reef, & Cultural Ecology Photo SIT Australia: Rainforest, Reef, & Cultural Ecology Photo SIT Australia: Rainforest, Reef, & Cultural Ecology Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The Homestay period gave me good exposure to the

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had some stomach problems while I was on Lizard Island during ISP and the staff there at the research station were very helpful and we were able to get it all sorted out without too much difficulty.

* Safety:

We were always advised if there was a safety risk wherever we were at the time. SIT has a "no hazardous activities" policy for students on their programs. That policy includes diving, but I appealed for and recieved exemption from that policy so that I could dive on ISP. I am highly certified and experienced so they allowed me to dive for research.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Things are expensive in Australia, but we were given lots of stipend money by the program and that covered almost all of my needs. During ISP the budget I was given by SIT was able to cover almost all of my expenses.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Almost nothing out of picket becuase the program provided a stipend that covered most of it.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? When possible, try to buy food and cook for yourself or with a group instead of eating out at resturants.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Host Family
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The diversity of places/ecosystems we got to see.
  • The other students.
  • The Staff.
* What could be improved?
  • Nothing comes to mind.
  • ?
  • ?
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? If I had known how awesome this program was I may have chosen to do it in 2013 instead of the program I did with CIEE in Bonaire (even though it was also really good).