SEA Semester Oceans and Climate: DO IT Past Review

By Scott Z (Environmental Science., Middlebury College) for

Sea Education Association: Programs at Sea - Oceans and Climate

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

Heck yea it was worthwhile. It's too difficult to distill what I learned into a few sentences. You learn fascinating things about our world, meet incredible people, and travel to amazing places.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	In Oceans and Climate, you arrive at campus and hit the ground running in terms of academics. The wonderful faculty and staff want to make sure your 6 weeks in Woods Hole prepare you well for your 6 weeks at sea. They do a fantastic job. While there is a lot of work, it is manageable. Expect to work hard, but have an incredible time both in and out of the classroom. Once you are at sea, the ocean is your classroom. It doesn't get better.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	Oceans and Climate is not about sailing for 12 weeks. The program is split, with the first 1/2 on land in Woods Hole, and the second 1/2 continuing a unique research experiment aboard a 135 foot brigantine. The first part on land is just as exciting and important as the sailing. The program is designed very well, such that the land component is integral to your time at sea. On land you live closely with your shipmates and work hard, yet you will be able to find time to enjoy Woods Hole/Cape Cod. At sea you will also work really hard, and get much less sleep, but develop even better friendships with your class, professors, and crew on board the ship. The ports stops are an incredible part of the sea component.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	On land: dorm with 10-12 people (depending on class size) per dorm. Rooms are triples/quads. At sea: you + 30 others on a 135 foot brigantine. You have a bunk with a few shelves and a drawer for your use.
* Food:	Great food. 3 meals/day, with 3 snacks/day in between meals. I was curious how the food at sea would be, and what the meal structure was. Definitely ate a lot.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Shipboard life itself was an awesome experience. Teamwork and 150% effort from everyone on board is a necessity for making everything run smoothly. Everyone comes together to form a cohesive unit with a friendly and really fun atmosphere. Port stops were awesome (2-3 days at each). Palmyra was unbelievable, Kiritimati too.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	Safety is the top priority. Felt very safe. Drills on ship (fire, man overboard, etc.).
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)

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm Other
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students Other

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	This is an incredible program. If you've read the review this far, it means you are interested, and you should probably apply asap. You will not regret it.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Directed Research in Oceans and Climate
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Comments:	The research project you work on, both at land and at sea. Somewhat like a mini-thesis.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No

Course Name/Rating:	Ocean Science and Public Policy
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Comments:	Good course, good professor. Although O&C is science-based, policy is an important companion to scientific research. This course makes sure you understand much of the relevant maritime policy and how it came to be.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No

Course Name/Rating:	Oceans in the Global Carbon Cycle
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Comments:	Fantastic course- great professor, really interesting course material. Also, great guest lecturers from the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole USGS, on and on. Both on land and at sea.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No

Course Name/Rating:	Nautical Science
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Comments:	Awesome professor, really interesting material. The professor is your captain on the boat, so they know vast amounts of nautical science, and you learn everything from right of way to celestial navigation. Nearly everything you learn is constantly utilized on the boat for successful sailing.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No