Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Magical moments at sea (with less sleep than usual) Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 10/02/2018 to 12/23/2018 with

Sea Education Association: Caribbean Reef Expedition

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The independent research component and the fact that I lived and worked and played on a sailboat made this whole experience incredible.

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.

SEA semester provided an academically rigorous and rewarding interdisciplinary approach to marine science, one which I'm sure I could not have gotten anywhere else.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Amazingly helpful faculty and staff made every step from application on through the end of the program a delight.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Very satisfied. You must be prepared to live and work very closely with your classmates.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

You get to know your shipmates more than any of the locations you stop at, but this is just the nature of the trip.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Always felt very safe and in good hands.

* Safety:

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

I know that the experience I got at SEA Semester was unique and I wouldn't wish it any other way.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $10
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Most expenses are covered by the program expenses.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

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?
  • Independent research on coral reefs
  • wonderful community
  • living on a sail boat and experiencing the Caribbean
* What could be improved?
  • some coursework was disorganized
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Really consider whether or not you want to be on a boat for an extended period of time, and committed to all the work that it takes to sail (at all ours of the day). You won't be able to get 8 hours of sleep, probably the whole time.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Directed Oceanographic Research
Course Department:
Instructor: Jeff Schell
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was the course that made the semester for me--it provided a chance to do independent in depth research on caribbean reef ecology.
Credit Transfer Issues: N/A
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Maritime History
Course Department:
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Comments:
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Marine Policy
Course Department:
Instructor:
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Comments:
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Oceans and Global Change
Course Department:
Instructor:
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Comments:
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Leadership in a Dynamic Environment
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:
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