Although Doreen Strauss is a freshman, she is already planning to study abroad the fall semester of her junior year.

She said she is headed for blue skies, sandy beaches and rainless semesters down under in Australia.

"I've seen pictures and the country is beautiful," Strauss (freshman-communications) said. "I would love to study in a place like that."

According to a survey done by the Institute of International Education, the enrollment of U.S. students in Australian universities has increased by 13 percent this year.

Australia has now been placed among the top five most popular locations for American students who are studying abroad.

Education Abroad Director John Keller said Australia has gained popularity in the last 10 years because of a so-called Crocodile Dundee effect.

He said popular movies and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney have given Australia more widespread exposure to college students.

Penn State has about 10 partnerships with Australian universities to give students a wide selection, Keller said.

"I lived in Australia; it is an English-speaking country, great people and universities," he said.

Lindsey Alexander (senior-crime, law and justice) studied in Australia and is a peer adviser at Penn State's International Programs Office.

She said the best part of the semester was having heartfelt conversations with everyone she met and learning there is more to life than just a job.

Having spent so much time "down under," Alexander said she has one regret about her stay there -- buying roundtrip airfare.

"Buy a one-way ticket because you will want to stay longer than a semester," Alexander said.

She added that a one-way ticket would provide a chance for students to travel to other countries on the way back.

Some of the more popular majors studied in Australia are agriculture and fishery sciences since there is a wide expanse of untouched land, Alexander said.

She said Australia has now become a very competitive place for Penn State students to apply.

Jen Nielsen, marketing associate for Australian-based company IDP Education Australia, said students are interested in Australia because it is less expensive, culturally rich and a non-traditional location.

IDP works with Australian universities to find interest among U.S. students looking to study abroad or get a graduate degree in Australia.

"Australia has been really popular within the past 15 years ... and continues to be more popular every year," Nielsen said.

Lisa Leggett (senior-mechanical engineering) studied at the University of Melbourne while attending Penn State.

"I always wanted to study in Australia," she said.

"It seemed like a friendly, laid-back place with tons of stuff to do outdoors," Leggett added.

She added that her opinion is that Australia may have become popular for so many American students because English is so widely spoken.

Keller said that although Australia is a prime location for studying abroad, prices are increasing.

"One thing that is happening is Australia is becoming increasingly expensive, so it is making U.S. universities re-think partnerships," Keller said.

The application deadlines for the 2005-06 academic year was Dec. 1 for the fall 2005 semester.

The deadline is April 1 for the spring 2006 semester, Alexander said.