Biology in the Great Outdoors. Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/25/2018 to 05/04/2018 with
Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS): South Africa - African Ecology and Conservation
I learned biology in an entirely new context. Concepts I had learned or brushed on in the classroom during my previous semesters could be applied to living/field contexts in South Africa. The ability to apply what was learned in lectures and literature in my own research and daily observations was extraordinary.
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The environment had a lot to do with the amount of stress I felt; I was with a small group in an open environment, so the workload was manageable. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
|
* Food: |
The catering was delicious! |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Most of the class was composed of American students, which greatly diminishes the kind of cultural immersion you'd get if you were doing another abroad program. |
* 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
Absolutely-- the content I learned and the people I learned with/from made my semester in South Africa incredibly brilliant. I don't think I would have had the same experience with any other group of individuals. |
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? | $5, for snacks when we visited shops away from our campus |
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | This program was very cost efficient, as I only really spent money during our spring break trip. |
Language
* Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
* What did you like most about the program? |
|
* What could be improved? |
|
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I was very nervous about getting along with the people in this program; as a college student resigning myself to spending four months with people I may not like was a scary prospect. However, I quickly learned that the people I was to be with were just as motivated and passionate as I was about the course content and life. It's rather self-selecting: the people who decide to go on this program seek adventure and challenge both in and out of the classroom. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |