Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Best Study Abroad Program Possible Past Review

By (Environmental Science, Endicott College) - abroad from 01/03/2012 to 03/25/2012 with

Sea Education Association: Programs at Sea - Oceans and Climate

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was completely worthwhile and I learned so much about so many varied things.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

There was no site. We came with a US organization (SEA) and were not really hosted on the islands we visited.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Though we did not spend a lot of time in any one place and could, therefore, not get too deeply involved, culture was one of our main areas of study and we were involved in very special activities on the islands we visited.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Though advanced healthcare is not readily available at sea, I think it was handled as well as one can expect in such a situation. That's just a risk of getting off the grid.

* Safety:

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? All food and necessities were provided by SEA. In port we could purchase food and souvenirs if we chose to, but we could get by with no money at all.

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?
  • the challenge (academics as well as shipboard life)
  • The local people I met
  • The physical environment (tropical islands)
* What could be improved?
  • nothing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Occasionally, strict authority is very necessary on a ship for very serious safety reasons. It can be very hard to handle. There were certain freedoms involved in this sailing semester, however, that you really can't get anywhere but the middle of the ocean or maybe the deepest backcountry.