I fell in love with Cape Town. Past Review
By Nic S (Middlebury College) - abroad from 07/02/2013 to 11/07/2013 with
CIEE: Cape Town - Arts and Sciences
South Africa is beautiful.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
II absolutely loved being in Cape Town and would not have wanted to be anywhere else but I felt that my GPA suffered because of the unfair grade conversion system. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I fractured my skull while I was in Cape Town and I felt that the administration completely mishandled my injury. They embarked on a witch hunt to vilify me so that my health costs would not have to be covered by the program's insurance. When I needed support, they alienated me. The program is completely unorganized and Quinton is a terrible leader. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my living arrangements. |
| * Food: |
The food is absolutely incredible. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Very, South Africans are extremely kind to foreigners. Often when they would fear my accent they would start up a conversation with me. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I fractured my skull while I was in Cape Town and I felt that the administration completely mishandled my injury. They embarked on a witch hunt to vilify me so that my health costs would not have to be covered by the program's insurance. When I needed support, they alienated me. The program is completely unorganized and Quinton is a terrible leader. |
| * Safety: |
Safe, but you need to be careful. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
Easily |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 1000 a month |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Save money, and enjoy the cheaper quality of life. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
N/A |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | N/A |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | N/A |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Bring warmer clothes. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Society and the Individual |
| Course Department: | Sociology |
| Instructor: | Shari Joseph |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Terrible class, I submitted papers that would have been A quality at Middlebury that received a 70 at UCT. They grading system is completely warped, because most students are just looking to pass, and do not care about the numeric grade, which is why american transfer students are penalized for the laisez faire culture. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | no |
