TCI: Be Confident and Adventurous and You'll Have An Amazing Time. Past Review

By (Global Environmental Studies, Clark University) for

The School for Field Studies / SFS: Turks and Caicos Islands - Marine Resource Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Yes! It was great. It made me completely infatuated with the ocean.

Review Photos

SFS: Turks & Caicos - Marine Resource Management Studies Photo SFS: Turks & Caicos - Marine Resource Management Studies Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload was surprisingly rigorous- but it was really fun, because everyone was doing everything together. You couldn't ever get really lost, because everyone was on the same page, helping and studying with each other. If you had questions you could ask anyone, even the teachers, because they were really living what they were teaching. It was also the perfect learning environment for me- there was ample free time to reinforce things I was learning with self- initiated learning expeditions.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Classes and daily structure was very well put together- the leaders were all on the same page. Safety rules need to be reassessed however, because on this program, you could get in trouble for snorkeling and educating yourself on your own time (with all safety precautions adhered to), but not get in trouble for snorting drugs and getting completely wasted and influencing others experience in a negative way.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

For an environment-focused program, getting SYSCO shipped from Miami was not what I would have wanted. They should get a garden program going!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was great being able to wander around an entire Caribbean island at my leisure, and snorkel to far-off islands. The mid-semester field trip to Provo and North Island was a HUGE HIGHLIGHT! Thank you Pete Parker for making that possible!

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

They play by the rules 6 days a week, and air on the side of caution most of the time.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Location
  • Experiential Learning
* What could be improved?
  • Give the students the tools to make appropriate decisions
  • Get a garden program going
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? One who takes their learning into their own hands and wraps themselves up fully in every experience. One who is ready to unplug.