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
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* 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. |
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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? |
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| * Food: |
The catering was delicious! |
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* 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. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| 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
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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? | $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
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * 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. |
