Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

A life change experience! Past Review

By (Biology, General., Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/26/2012 to 12/03/0012 with

Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS): South Africa - African Ecology and Conservation

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned so much about biology. I have been inspired to pursue a career in field research. This program has been invaluable for me.

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.

The program was incredibly different but very fulfilling. The teachers clearly wanted to challenge us but were willing to put in extra hours to make sure we would do well.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program was very well organized. We always knew where we had to be at what time and travel arrangements always went smoothly.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The only bad thing about OTS is that you never have any privacy. Although you get much closer as group, living in such cramped living arrangements is not easy. It does teach you to adapt, though.

* Food:

The food was amazing, but the menu rotated on a schedule and it did get a little repetitive at the end.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Everyone was very nice and friendly. Although South Africa has a reputation for violence I felt very safe the entire time.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Once student did have his appendix removed during the trip and my impression was that that went well. Another girl became very ill on the home stay and that did not go well. We could not get medical attention and it was very scary. In the end she ended up being okay but it was an upsetting experience. In order to go abroad I got yellow fever, typhoid and rabies. I think rabies is a good vaccine to get because although I did not plan to end up working with small mammals I ended up doing so.

* Safety:

The area where we stayed for the majority of the time, Skukuza, was very safe. It is mostly full of tourists and everyone is nice and friendly.

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

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)

You did not need to spend any money if you did not want to. All meals were provided and there was nothing else you needed to buy.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 20 dollars
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Ration your money in Cape Town. Things can get expensive there if you aren't careful. Plan to spend most of your budget there doing activities.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Host Family
  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • 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?
  • Field Research
  • The professors
  • South Africa
* What could be improved?
  • The housing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew more about scientific writing. That was a main focus of the program and something that would have been useful to review before departure.

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 Linguist
You 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!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Conservation Biology
Course Department: Biology
Instructor: Karen Vickers
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I felt that this course did not cover enough material and did not provide enough opportunities to be graded. The final grade was only based on two main assignments. The course its self was interesting but could have been more in depth.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Savanna Ecology
Course Department: Biology
Instructor: Laurence Kruger
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was amazing and incredible informative the only issue was that several lectures were taught in the field where it was difficult to concentrate. The majority of assessment in this course came from 2 exams and 1 paper.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

History and Culture
Course Department: History
Instructor: Laura Allen
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was very interesting and took a hands on approach to South Africa history. We learned about history through music and it was always excited and engaging. The majority of this grade comes from a single paper which is fun. The other assignments though can be tedious.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Field Methods
Course Department: Biology
Instructor: Ashley Pearcy
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This was the most difficult course because it included statistics, field work and writing workshops but it was by far the most rewarding because I learned many new skills. I was given opportunities I would have never had at my home institution.
Credit Transfer Issues: