Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Academically disappointing, but I'm glad I had this experience. Past Review

By (HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS., Brandeis University) - abroad from 01/22/2013 to 06/08/2013 with

CIEE: Cape Town - Service Learning

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
How to live more independently. It was worthwhile in that regard.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academic portion of the program was disappointing. I felt as if I did not get very much out of my classes, and the course instructors were not qualified for the courses they were instructing. I was also disappointed in that my courses took away from time I could have spent at my service site (as the program was "service-learning," I had gone into this experience thinking that there would be more service than academics...I was wrong, though.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The coordinators were nice but sometimes patronizing, and they often waited until the last-minute to give us news about important things like transportation to our service-sites. Our class venues changed weekly, and we were usually not made aware of the location until a few hours before class, leaving little time for us to plan.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The setup was wonderful - three connected houses that fit all of the students and RAs. Having a housekeeper everyday was unexpected but a nice perk.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I think that if you're aware of your surroundings and don't do things like talk on your iPhone in public (because it will probably get stolen out of your hand), you'll be fine. I felt safe most of the time, but that's because I almost always traveled with at least one other person.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

I had to budget for more things - i.e., I have always been on a meal plan at school, but in Cape Town, I had to budget for food shopping.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Keep track of your expenditures - they can really add up!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

There weren't very many opportunities to practice the language.

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? Third level of Spanish
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • Cape Town
  • The students in the program
  • The house
* What could be improved?
  • More challenging & relevant courses
  • Broader selection of service sites (and more that are not schools)
  • More cultural activities (like a trip to Johannesburg)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? "African time" - everything moves slower

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!