Posted By: Career Enrichment Network
Jamie Quail, majoring in Psychology with a minor in Environmental Inquiry, spent last spring in Perth, Australia. Read more about Jamie’s experience below!
The program that I went on was, CIEE Perth Arts & Sciences in Western Australia. I chose this location because Australia is a place I figured I would never travel to on my own time, like I would with European countries. Perth is known for its environmentally conscious lifestyle and sunny weather, two characteristics I cherish about places I live. This program included many activities that allowed me to experience the natural beauty of Australia as well as immerse me in the new culture, so my transition into a new lifestyle was smooth and exciting. I was also attracted to the types of courses (units) available for me to study at Murdoch University, especially the Sustainability courses that I couldn’t find at Penn State. And the highlight of choosing Murdoch has been the Northwest Trip that they offer to study abroad and exchange students that consists of camping for 10 days while visiting amazing sites such as Coral Bay and the Ningaloo Reef, Monkey Mia, and Karijini National Park – all at an amazing cost.
I chose the first semester (second semester for Penn State) because I had a prior commitment to TA at Penn State the previous semester. Some of the classes I wanted to take at Murdoch were also only available during this semester, so that made the choice very easy. I participate in the Buddy Program Murdoch set up between local students and study abroad students which has connected me to Australian culture in a fun and enjoyable way.
My career goal is to become a licensed counseling psychologist as well as an environmental advocate. My experience abroad has most influenced my environmental advocacy goals by offering me hands on experience with sustainability projects in a place (Western Australia) where many sustainability efforts are being made. I hope to one day own my own Wellness Centre and the experience of me studying abroad on my own has helped me to become more independent and financially responsible, two major characteristic necessary for opening my own business.
I received Enrichment Funds from the College of Liberal Arts which helped me pay for school supplies such as textbooks and an extra course. My Academic Adviser has helped me determine what courses will transfer back to Penn State which was extremely stress-free and informative.
My advice (to students considering study abroad) would be to spend a lot of time researching your options and really consider the atmosphere of the university you’ll be studying at. I would have liked less of a laid back academic atmosphere that Murdoch offers and my accommodation didn’t really immerse me enough with Australians as I would have liked. Also Perth is very far from other Australian cities so I wasn’t able to explore Sydney or Melbourne. So look into what programs meet your academic needs first, then what programs have the best trips and proximity to other amazing cities.
Academically, Australia is very laid back. You have your unit (class) once a week usually and have very few assignments making each assignment/exam worth most of your grade. This kind of learning style has me doing a lot of work on my own, especially a lot of reading, and has taught me to keep up with each lesson and manage my time better. The Northwest Trip has been the most incredible experience of this entire journey because it provided me with experiences that I could only have in Australia. I snorkeled with sea turtles, reef sharks, and 12 foot manta rays, camped out in Karijini National Park and swam in natural gorges that most Australians won’t even see themselves. I met students from all over the world including Germany, Denmark, Canada, and Japan, and connected with them on our love for nature and new experiences.
Applications for Fall or Academic Year Study Abroad are due March 1st. Spring applications are due May 1st. All Liberal Arts students studying or interning abroad are eligible for Enrichment Funding. To learn more, please schedule an appointment via Network Symplicity or email Jackie Smith,Global Experiences Coordinator (jds54@psu.edu)