Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Most Coordinated and Experiential Program I Know Of. Past Review

By (Music., Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/01/2011 to 12/17/2011 with

Williams College: Mystic - Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Interdisciplinary teaching is a popular concept in education today. This program and the absolutely top-notch team of teachers and staff at Williams-Mystic come closer to achieving a true interdisciplinary approach than any other school I've seen yet. The program is unique in that all the professors and staff know exactly what is being taught in the other classes and work very hard to make connections between them and between our class material and the field-trip experiences we have.

Review Photos

Williams College: Mystic - Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program Photo Williams College: Mystic - Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program Photo Williams College: Mystic - Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program Photo

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Food not provided

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* 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)

The program gives each house a weekly stipend to spend on groceries and other household needs.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Usually $0
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? As long as you plan your meals ahead of time, you should have to trouble with food costs.

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

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The caring and sense of family created by the faculty and staff
  • Reinforcing classroom learning with experiential learning
  • A constant awareness of current world affairs and a sensitivity to human life and emotion when thinking about the sea.
* What could be improved?
  • Honestly, not much
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish my work-ethic were better so I could make better use of the wonderful experiences at Williams-Mystic. I also wish I had met with and talked to the professors more right from the beginning, instead of waiting to try to figure out certain problems on my own. They are the most helpful.

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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Maritime History
Course Department: History
Instructor: Glenn Gordinier
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Marine Ecology
Course Department: Ecology and Biology
Instructor: James Carlton
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Marine Policy
Course Department: Policy
Instructor: Katherine Hall
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Literature of the Sea
Course Department: English Literature
Instructor: Mary K. Bercaw-Edwards
Instruction Language: English
Comments:
Credit Transfer Issues: