Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Experientially Exploring Sustainability Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/24/2019 to 12/11/2019 with

SIT Study Abroad: Australia - Sustainability and Environmental Action

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definilty worthwhile. I learned a lot about sustainability and environmental activism as well as about aboriginal and indigenous culture.

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?

* 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

This experience taught be so much about not only the complexity of the culture I was living in, but also about how to take skills in sustainability and activism back home to the US. Additionally, I learned a lot about how to do research.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $20 for social reasons, but none on living costs
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Not in particular

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

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

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • 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 experiential components
  • the community
  • the class readings
* What could be improved?
  • Not much emphasis on learning research methods
  • Lectures were not always very engaging
  • Little information about your schedule in advance - could have been more up front with students about what to expect on a given day.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The ISP period is truly what you make of it. You will have an incredible opportunity to do either research or and internship and it doesn't really matter which one you choose if you go into it expecting to make your own adventure/positive experience.

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.