SEA is a life-changing experience, and I would kill to go back again! Past Review
By Elizabeth D (Biology, Williams College) for
Sea Education Association: The Global Ocean
Most worthwhile decision of my life! You gain a unique appreciation for and understanding of the world and environment around us, through an oceanographic/sailing lens. The only way to travel is by ship. I now plan to work on ships for some time after college and want to go into experiential education because SEA truly changed my life for the better.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
SEA is very academically rigorous both in subject matter and pace. All the hard work is worth it though once you get out to sea. SEA also has the best academic reputation of all the sailing adventure study abroad programs. The coursework is on par with an Ivy League education, and the professors are so accessible, fun, and knowledgeable. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The SEA office staff are amazing, as are all the teachers and marine department. There could have been some better communication, but overall the administration is fabulous. They are especially good at keeping students up to date on local events and things do in and around Woods Hole when on the shore component. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Students when on shore live in cottages on campus of up to about 10 students. The rooms are big, and there is a kitchen/living room common space for the whole house. There is one basement for all houses to share with a ping pong table, bikes, laundry facilities, grill, etc. As a girl, I wish there was a bit more storage space in the rooms, but the living quarters were amazing overall, nicer than my dorm at school. On the ship you live in bunks below decks. It's pretty cramped and hot, but the experience is worth it. I miss being rocked to sleep in my bunk sailing in the Caribbean. |
| * Food: |
On shore, each cottage is provided with grocery store gift cards to buy food to cook for themselves. They give you plenty of money, and we ate like kings. On the ship, there is a steward to cook, but students rotate helping out in the galley. For living on a ship, the food was pretty good considering all factors. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Port calls were so much fun and educational. The students and staff are amazing and become your best friends by the end. Sailing for a semester is possibly the coolest thing you could do, and when else will you have the opportunity to do something like this in your life? You can always travel to Europe when you're older, why not sail the high seas for 6 weeks instead? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Due to the complexities of living on a ship, safety was always a high priority. |
| 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) |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Really consider doing a more alternative study abroad program. SEA is the best of the best. Take a leap of faith, and SEA will change your life both academically and personally, truly. |
