Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Cape Town Health Studies 2015 Past Review

By (Anthropology, Miami University) - abroad from 06/17/2015 to 08/01/2015 with

IES Abroad: Cape Town - Summer Health Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a greater sense of independence, as well as re-affirmed my desire to work in Healthcare. It was definitely worthwhile! I had one of the greatest experiences of my life.

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.

The lecture component of our course was very disorganized, and the professor was not engaging.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Everything IES facilitated was organized very well. They were very helpful with questions regarding both the program and life in Cape Town.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Our program had the option of shared houses or shared apartments. Both the houses and apartments were well maintained and secure. They provided all of the amenities for comfortable living throughout our stay.

* Food:

The food provided by IES during their excursions was fantastic!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We were living around and interacting with members of the community throughout the program. It was very easy to meet people and make friends with the locals, as they are very welcoming and friendly.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

For the students who became ill on out program, IES was very good about quickly getting them to a doctor so they could receive the attention needed.

* Safety:

Like every other major city, Cape Town does have an elevated risk of danger. This can be significantly reduced by practicing common sense measures such as: not walking alone at night, avoiding certain high-crime areas, and keeping expensive electronics out of sight. I never felt unsafe, nor experienced any incident while staying in Cape Town.

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 conversion rate for a US student living in Cape Town is great. Food and other living necessities are much cheaper, and IES provided a good amount of meals.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try to exercise control when shopping for souvenirs. While it might be hard to not purchase something that catches your eye, you WILL have a problem fitting it all in your suitcase on the way home. Try to avoid large and breakable items, as they are at risk for breaking on the way back.

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

  • 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?
  • Location
  • Service Learning Oppertunities
  • Excursions
* What could be improved?
  • Lecture organization
  • Communication between IES and professor of the course
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish IES would have provided itineraries about the excursions prior to arrival. There were many trips that were included in our program that we did not know about. So while it was a bonus to be able to partake in activities that did not have an additional cost, it would have been good to know prior to arrival.

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.