Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Journey of a Life Time Past Review

By (Clark University - Worcester) - abroad from 01/27/0014 to 06/14/0014 with

CIEE: Cape Town - Arts and Sciences

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I did a lot of new things that I had always wanted to do, I made incredible friends, I challenged myself and grew a lot as a person. I got to experience once in a lifetime 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.

It was hard but not because it was necessarily academically harder, but because the University of Cape Town is very unnecessarily bureaucratic

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I made a lot of American friends but only a handful of South African friends. The program was too American- centered.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

A girl on my program died on spring break in Namibia from a car crash because they rented cars. They should have severe consequences for renting cars outside of Cape Town, because cape town is safe to drive in but the unpaved roads of Namibia cost her her life.

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)

I spent about $120 dollars a week on expenses

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about $120
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Dont eat out that much, its not worth it!! And make a budget, and take out lots of money from the atm and keep it in your room so you can avoid the atm fees.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* 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
  • International Students
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?
  • Beautiful place
  • Made incredible friends
* What could be improved?
  • Not being american centered
  • Giving more freedom
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How much money I would end up spending.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.