Greatest Abroad Experience Ever July 20, 2026
By Anika A (Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Hamilton College) - abroad from 01/30/2026 to 05/14/2026 with
SIT Study Abroad: Australia - Rainforest, Reef, and Cultural Ecology
I gained so much during this program, including loads of technical skills in field work and science communication, but the most important thing I gained was an academic confidence in myself I haven’t felt since high school and a whole bunch of ideas on how to combine ecology and biochemistry for my dream career. I entered the program feeling burnt out from my degree and left it feeling so energized and undoubtedly a better student. It was absolutely worthwhile.
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. |
Challenging, rewarding, and intellectually stimulating assignments combining science communication and field work. Fair grading and lots of good feedback! |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very well planned and compassionate program administration. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Global Backpackers is a clean, safe hostel in a great location. |
| * Food: |
Group meals cooked together was a very fun and helpful aspect of the program on group trips! When in Cairns, each person is responsible for their own meals except for during field excursions. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The Woodleigh Cattle Station trip provided an excellent opportunity for cultural immersion and was such an amazing experience! |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not need any vaccines for this program. I did not have an experience with healthcare requiring any medical intervention, but I had friends who did. I cannot speak for them but I know that the administration at SIT did a great job of making sure they were able to participate in the program as fully as possible and get the care they needed. |
| * Safety: |
Travel in groups in Cairns at night and stay on main roads where possible. Heard some catcalling but was never personally affected by anything safety-related. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I really don’t think there’s a program out there better suited for my interests and personal goals. This program allowed me to live my childhood dream of snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, use my outdoor education skills while hiking, and learn so much more about research outside of my major. For me, this program symbolized letting myself have a semester where I just did the things most exciting to me in the world and chased my childhood dreams. As a biochemistry major, I actually found that doing an ecology abroad program strengthened my resolve that I chose the right path while managing not to sacrifice either passion- I found out about a whole bunch of cool career paths that use both ecology and biochem! Going into postgrad applications, I feel so much less limited than I used to, and it’s shown me that my major is truly so versatile. |
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) |
Groceries in Australia are not cheap, but having accommodation included for most of the program and stipended for the ISP was very nice. However, the ISP stipend wasn’t sufficient to offset cost of living for most students, especially in big cities like Brisbane and Sydney, and many people paid partially out of pocket for ISP living. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Rusty’s market has cheap produce over the weekends, and if you buy nonperishables you can keep them at Global during excursions and eat them when you come back. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had packed more non-field work clothes. I packed very concisely and then had no options for a “stylish” outfit for class or exploring the city with my friends. So if style matters to you, I’d bring a couple of versatile, lightweight pieces you can use for any time you’re not on excursion or in the field. And you might want to bring jeans— it does get cooler towards the end of the semester and many people do their ISPs further south in Australia. I appreciated having a pair of “real pants” while I was there. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
