International Students Student stories Science Shania Bolen (USA)
Shania Bolen (USA)
- Future Students
- JCU Global Experience
-
International Students
- Study with us
- How to apply
- Study Abroad and Exchange
- Scholarships and financial support
- Prepare to arrive
- Life at JCU
-
Student stories
- Allied Health
- Arts & Social Sciences
- Biomedical Sciences
- Business, Law and Finance
- Engineering
- Environmental Science
- IT and Data Science
- Marine Biology
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Nursing and Midwifery
- Public Health and Tropical Medicine
- Research
- Science
- Social Work
- Study Abroad & Exchange
- Teaching and Education
- Tourism
- JCU Authorised Representatives
- Contact us
- Open Day
- How to apply
- Pathways to university
- Virtual Open Day
- Living on Campus
- Courses
- Publications
- Scholarships
- Parents and Partners
- JCU Heroes Programs
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in Marine Science
- Elite Athletes
- Defence
- Current Students
- New students
- JCU Orientation
- LearnJCU
- Placements
- CEE
- Unicare Centre and Unicampus Kids
- Graduation
- Off-Campus Students
- JCU Job Ready
- Safety and Wellbeing
- JCU Prizes
- Professional Experience Placement
- Employability Edge
- Art of Academic Writing
- Art of Academic Editing
- Careers and Employability
- Student Equity and Wellbeing
- Career Ready Plan
- Careers at JCU
- Partners and Community
- JCU-CSIRO Partnership
- Alumni
- About JCU
- Reputation and Experience
- Chancellery
- Governance
- Celebrating 50 Years
- Academy
- Indigenous Engagement
- Education Division
- Graduate Research School
- Research and Teaching
- Research Division
- Research and Innovation Services
- CASE
- College of Business, Law and Governance
- College of Healthcare Sciences
- College of Medicine and Dentistry
- College of Science and Engineering
- CPHMVS
- Anthropological Laboratory for Tropical Audiovisual Research (ALTAR)
- Anton Breinl Research Centre
- Agriculture Technology and Adoption Centre (AgTAC)
- Advanced Analytical Centre
- AMHHEC
- Aquaculture Solutions
- AusAsian Mental Health Research Group
- ARCSTA
- Area 61
- Lions Marine Research Trust
- Australian Tropical Herbarium
- Australian Quantum & Classical Transport Physics Group
- Boating and Diving
- Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab
- Centre for Tropical Biosecurity
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology
- CITBA
- CMT
- Centre for Disaster Solutions
- CSTFA
- Cyclone Testing Station
- The Centre for Disaster Studies
- Daintree Rainforest Observatory
- Fletcherview
- JCU Eduquarium
- JCU Turtle Health Research
- Language and Culture Research Centre
- MARF
- Orpheus
- TESS
- JCU Ideas Lab
- TARL
- eResearch
- Indigenous Education and Research Centre
- Estate
- Work Health and Safety
- Staff
- Discover Nature at JCU
- Cyber Security Hub
- Association of Australian University Secretaries
- Services and Resources Division
- Environmental Research Complex [ERC]
- Foundation for Australian Literary Studies
- Gender Equity Action and Research
- Give to JCU
- Indigenous Legal Needs Project
- Inherent Requirements
- IsoTropics Geochemistry Lab
- IT Services
- JCU Webinars
- JCU Events
- JCU Motorsports
- JCU Sport
- Library
- Mabo Decision: 30 years on
- Marine Geophysics Laboratory
- Office of the Vice Chancellor and President
- Outstanding Alumni
- Pharmacy Full Scope
- Planning for your future
- Policy
- PAHL
- Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Rapid Assessment Unit
- RDIM
- Researcher Development Portal
- Roderick Centre for Australian Literature and Creative Writing
- Contextual Science for Tropical Coastal Ecosystems
- State of the Tropics
- Strategic Procurement
- Student profiles
- SWIRLnet
- TREAD
- TropEco for Staff and Students
- TQ Maths Hub
- TUDLab
- VAVS Home
- WHOCC for Vector-borne & NTDs
- Media
- Copyright and Terms of Use
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health & Medicine
- Pay review
When choosing where to study abroad, I wanted to be as close as I could to the rainforest and the reef while still getting the best education for my degree. JCU provided me with the best location possible in the tropics, along with a great research reputation. It also allowed me to take courses that let me fully learn and explore topics that I was passionate about. I loved it so much that I transferred to finish my degree here! JCU easily allowed me to change my major from a marine science background at my previous institution to tropical ecology and zoology!
The research field trips in my courses have been really amazing. We get to go out in the field and conduct research in the oldest tropical rainforest in the world, how cool is that! The biodiversity of plant and animal species we have been able to learn about and even monitor for course work with different methods and sensors/resources has taught me so much. Likewise, the hands on learning has made me much more confident in the field.
The volunteering opportunities in the area and the relationships you make with people from all over the world is so special. I have gotten the opportunity to help with sea turtle rehab, aquarium husbandry, and wildlife rehab of native animals. Plus, I have made friends from more countries than I can count! If you try new things and go to events, JCU will help give you heaps of life experiences, help you see the world through different perspectives, and help you make connections that you will cherish forever.