Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

An immersive, extremely interesting, and absolute blast of an experience! August 28, 2025

By (Environmental Studies, Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/27/2025 to 05/02/2025 with

The School for Field Studies / SFS: Australia – Rainforest studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Extremely worthwhile! During my time abroad, we participated in intensive field work and research, which was quite new to me and helped me understand much more about the whole research process within environmental and biological fields of study. Additionally, we learned a lot of insightful, interesting, and important information about both the local political world and ecological world.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

While the course material itself was not necessarily difficult, and could also be slightly disorganized at times, the workload was fairly intensive and nicely fast-past. But, in terms of overall educational experience, everything was interesting, manageable, available, and super fun!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Administration and staff members were always available and very helpful throughout the entirety of the program.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Truthfully, for being smack dab in the middle of a tropical rainforest, the housing situation was pretty satisfactory. No complaints.

* Food:

We were offered a set weekly menu which provided well-balanced, decently tasting meals. No complaints.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We engaged and collaborated quite a bit with many of the community members. We interacted with a variety of different people and groups within the local community. This included indigenous groups, small farmers, land holders, volunteer committees, research experts, and many other members of the general public.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

While health-related issues were not a problem during my time, healthcare was easily accessible and students who were experiencing problems were timely treated by staff members and professionals. Luckily, however, nobody in the program experienced any notable health-related issues.

* Safety:

Danbulla and Yungaburra were pretty isolated, but were very safe. Cairns city was also very safe.

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

Absolutely! While much of my experience can be attributed to my amazing friends, my experience was also heavily shaped by the academics, the incredible staff, and the most beautiful natural settings.

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)

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • the rich and rigorous research experience
  • the immersive and intensive field work
  • the amazing friends, staff members, and community
* What could be improved?
  • less variability in the schedule
  • slightly more straightforward guidelines on certain assignments and activities
  • nothing else
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? With regards to academics, every assignment and activity was based in assigned group work, which ended up being absolutely fine by me but did definitely impair and upset other students at times.   With regards to more practical items and knowledge, we were truly working and existing in the middle of a rainforest, so be prepared for extreme weather conditions and even some cabin mold if you're unlucky!

Reasons For Studying Abroad

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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.