Best semester! Past Review
By Kimberly Reilly (University of Massachusetts Amherst / UMass) - abroad from 01/21/2019 to 06/08/2019 with
IES Abroad: Cape Town - University of Cape Town
I learned to be more independent. It’s often easy to go with the crowd when people are planning to do things, but I also realized that I had to do the things that I wanted because it was my experience. I also gained a new perspective Because of the differences in South African and American cultures and history. I Am thankful for the Sox months K had in Cape Town, and it was definitely worthwhile because there are so many things that very few people can say they’ve done (safari, Boulders Beach, Robben Island, etc.)
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Courses at University of Cape Town were demanding, some were not as good as I had hoped them to be. The IES courses were small which was nice compared to the large lectures at UCT, and allowed for students to get to know the professor. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
All of the IES staff were so nice and friendly! They were there to help whenever you needed them. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
CampusKey was very modern, and we lived in single suites that had a private kitchenette and bathroom, a TV, desk and chair, and bed. Several TV lounges, a study room, free washers/dryers, and 24/7 gym were available onsite. Security would be there at night to keep the building safe, and finger prints were required to enter the building, hallways, and each suite. |
| * Food: |
Never had a bad meal. So many food markets, cute cafes, and fine dining. I definitely went out of my comfort zone and lived everything I tried. There are some American chains as well (I personally didn’t try them, but they are there). It was also a lot cheaper than US prices for food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I wish I had been more integrated. My classes had a lot of international students, and I living on the same floor as everyone else in the program made it difficult to get to know locals. I wish I had been more involved on campus in clubs and societies. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Residence hall has biometric door locks, and security in the evening. Avoid walking outside at night, and be cautious when walking alone or in small groups. Be aware of surrounding and you should be okay. |
| 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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Academics were going to be a lot more demanding |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
