Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Living in Cape Town Was Cool Past Review

By (University of Rochester) - abroad from 01/21/2019 to 06/08/2019 with

IES Abroad: Cape Town - University of Cape Town

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how to integrate myself into a local culture and adapt to a different way of living. The experience taught me about myself and gave me a better idea of what is important to me. It was worthwhile and I would recommend it to anyone seeking an experience full of fun adventures and learning opportunities.

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:

* 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

IES provided lots of support, but also allowed students the freedom to immerse ourselves in the local culture.

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? $20 - $30
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Plan a budget and stick with it during your time abroad!

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • I loved the location and all the activities available.
  • The staff at IES were helpful and very responsive to any issues that arose.
  • The field trips were well-planned and lots of fun.
* What could be improved?
  • The pre-departure communication about housing and other aspects of local living was lacking.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known more about what the housing options would look like.

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.