Beautiful, Isolated biodiversity Past Review

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/28/2017 to 12/16/2017 with

Kachemak Bay Campus of University of Alaska - Semester by the Bay

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

I learned a lot about Alaskan marine life and the lifestyle that comes with living in Alaska. I gained a lot of self confidence in being more independent and not rely on my normal, comforting social spheres. I believe it was worthwhile

Review Photos

Kachemak Bay Campus of University of Alaska - Semester by the Bay Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	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 I go back and forth with this answer. I am grateful for my time in Homer, Alaska as I learned a lot about the biodiversity there and about myself, however, I think I could have chosen a more fun program that was engaging and community oriented.

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?	150-200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Buy food in bulk!

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	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?	0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	The field trips and hands on research we did with class. The beauty of Alaska, nothing can compare the stunning, dramatic scenery. Spending time on the water. I loved living near/on the ocean!
* What could be improved?	The organization and reliability of the courses and teachers should be improved. More opportunities to explore the natural surroundings. More opportunities to engage with the community would have been beneficial.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	That Homer is isolated and without a car you aren't very mobile to explore. Also the program itself doesn't inspire community as there is no central campus or living area.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Undergraduate Seminar : Conservation of Marine Mammals
Course Department:	Science
Instructor:	Dr. Debbie Boege-Tobin and Marc Webber
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was not as challenging as it could have been. The structure of the course was for each student to present on a topic relevant to the subject. Other students in the audience read scientific literature submitted by the student in order to prepare for each class and participate in discussion. I greatly enjoyed the discussions in class and thought they were helpful for me as a conservation biology major interested in marine sciences.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Marine Mammal Biology
Course Department:	Science
Instructor:	Dr. Debbie Boege-Tobin and Marc Webber
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was appropriately challenging. It is set up like a basic science course with lecture and exams. The exams included larger concepts, taxonomy, and evolution on marine mammals. The lab was relevant and hands on. We had great exposure to the bay and biodiversity there with real research experience as well. We produced posters that could be published with the work we orchestrated throughout the semester. I participated in class with the same level as I would at Middlebury. Both teachers were knowledgeable, however, often times they were not organized or prepared adequately for the start of class. This proved problematic when preparing for exams and was often frustrating as a whole.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Marine Biology
Course Department:	Science
Instructor:	Dr. Debbie Boege-Tobin
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	This course was appropriately challenging. It is set up like a basic science course with lecture and exams. The lab was relevant and hands on. We had great exposure to the bay and biodiversity there. I participated in class with the same level as I would at Middlebury. The teacher was knowledgeable, however, often times was not organized or prepared adequately for the start of class. This hindered our ability to get through all of the course material.
Credit Transfer Issues: