Semester in Environmental Science: Not What I Expected Past Review
By Sarah B (Geology, Carleton College) for
Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL): Woods Hole - Semester in Environmental Sciences
Yes. I now know that I don't want to focus on biology, but that I love environmental science as a genera. The independent research was the original draw, and the portion I loved best. The people were amazing, the program was challenging, far reaching, but poorly timed.
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. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We lived on the MBL campus, with predominantly other students in our program, but also a number of graduate students and visiting scientists who we didn't have much contact with. |
| * Food: |
They were very accommodating and lovely people, it was just low on vegetarian options and they used more oils in the food than I prefer. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
whale watching off Provincetown, MA, kayak trip in Plum Island, lots of intermittent field work on the cape |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I had my wisdom teeth out during the program and was expected to return to class the same day. This did not occur. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | less than $10. Food was all provided, and we pretty much stayed on campus. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I had to get very nice dress clothes for the symposium at the end. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
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 do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Become best friends with the other participants, and keep pulling each other up. This program would have been intolerable without the other students. |
