McNeese Junior Studied Abroad in Australia

Isabella Burke, a McNeese State University junior from Vinton, recently returned from a semester studying abroad in Australia. She completed courses at La Trobe University right outside of Melbourne on the very southern tip of the country. Burke has always dreamed of going abroad somewhere exotic and seized the opportunity.  

“Being a biological science major with a concentration in ecology, I have always been fascinated by the biodiversity Australia has to offer and wanted a chance to see all of the amazing fauna and flora for myself,” explained Burke. 

She says that going to an English-speaking country helped to eliminate some of the stress that language barriers can create.  She chose La Trobe University because it was one of the few universities available that wasn’t in a city, so she was able to enjoy more greenery and wildlife near campus.  

Burke completed an animal physiology class which counted toward her degree and decided to take other courses that aren’t offered at McNeese to help broaden her horizons. These classes included archaeology and human and animal relations, as well as first-nations peoples of Australia to gain a better understanding of their culture.  

“My favorite part was the lifelong friends I made,” explained Burke. “We had so much fun going on hikes together and exploring the different forests and beaches. We took trips to Tasmania and Cairns and were able to see kangaroos, wombats, wallabies and koalas as well as snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef.” 

She said the biggest difference in McNeese and La Trobe University was the size. McNeese has about 6,500 students while La Trobe has about 36,000 students in attendance.  

“There are a lot of little details within the program such as travel, housing and visas to sort out before departure and even after you arrive. It was honestly pretty stressful but well worth it in the end,” Burke expressed.  

“I feel like other students should absolutely apply for this opportunity. It seems daunting at first but I would choose to go again every time,” says Burke. “I made fond, lifelong memories that I will get to tell future generations about, so I think anyone who has the opportunity to study abroad should definitely take it.” 

Student interested in pursuing a semester abroad can visit McNeese International Student Services or email internationaloffice@mcneese.edu.