Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Life Changing Experience: Best Study Abroad Program! February 13, 2023

By (Environmental Science, Oregon State University) - abroad from 08/26/2022 to 12/09/2022 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a lot of fieldwork experience, which is what I was looking for. I learned to be a hands on learner and feel as though I'm more of a versatile learner and worker.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I really liked how assignments were worked into the program, between and during the excursions.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Extremely kind and welcoming. Super knowledgeable and made the program unforgettable.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I really liked the array of housing we to stay at throughout the excursions. All of the accommodations were unique and different, which I personally really enjoyed.

* Food:

I'm vegan and to my surprise I had no problem with finding options to eat when going out for food. Even on excursions the program director made sure I had food I could eat during group meals.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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

If I could do this program all over again I would in a heartbeat! I still look at my photos and videos of my time in Australia almost daily. I feel like I saw more of Australia in my 4 months abroad on this program than I could have on a trip on my own. I learned so much and enjoyed every second of it.

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)

I had no problem living on the stipend money we were given weekly. What I highly suggest is not eating out too much, since it can be pretty expensive.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* 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 program directors/lecturers
  • The places we got to go: Lizard island, Kangaroo island, Mission beach, etc.
  • Field work opportunities
* What could be improved?
  • More support for finding an ISP
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? One thing I would highly recommend would be to get a jump start on contacting researchers for the ISP portion of the program at the very beginning of the program because it can take longer to find something you're interested in than you think.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.