Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Research in the Tropics Past Review

By (Northwest Arkansas Community College) - abroad from 06/03/2017 to 06/24/2017 with

NWACC: Study Abroad in Thailand

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about what it means to do field work, and the kind of work that people do when conducting research. I feel that I now have a deeper understanding of the field I am entering.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

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?

We encountered bed bugs at one point, which was not fun to deal with.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Because we were staying on a research station, we did not interact with locals much.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

New cities are overwhelming. It's important to be very aware of your surroundings, as it is easy to get lost.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Overall I enjoyed the program, and it was more geared towards my area of interest than any other program offered by NWACC

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)

Although food was relatively cheap in most places, I ended up having to spend more than I anticipated on food.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? about $85
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Purchase snacks ahead of time to avoid having to pay for a full meal on a resort or when travelling from place to place.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

The majority of the people I worked with long term spoke English.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
How many hours per day did you use the language? 0

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • N/A
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
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?
  • Being able to help with research
* What could be improved?
  • More structured
  • More inclusive budget
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known how much sight seeing we were going to be doing.

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.