Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

SEA Semester!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Past Review

By (Northeastern University) - abroad from 01/03/2012 to 03/28/2012 with

Sea Education Association: The Global Ocean

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned some valuable laboratory skills and research writing skills. The experience sailing a tall ship is something I could not find anywhere else. This wasn't a program focused primarily on cultural experiences, as we only spent about 5 days total on land.

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.

Class material was somewhat challenging, but the amount of work and projects that are expected in such a short period of time

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Although living arrangements were snug, it wasn't a bad experience at all!

* Food:

Food was great on the ship, which was surprising!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

We stopped at non-touristy areas which made the experience much more enjoyable. I felt like we were really thrown in amongst the locals.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Port Antonio, Jamaica was a little sketchy, but students were safe.

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? unknown
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? For students who participate in an SEA program with stops, make sure to save up beforehand and have about $1000 in your bank account. You won't use all of it, but it's surprising how much cost of food and souvenirs adds up.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • 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?
  • Food
  • Sailing experience
  • Research experience
* What could be improved?
  • Classroom relevance — Maritime Studies was interesting, but not really worth the time in my opinion. More science would be better.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I should have done a more science-focused program instead of general Ocean Exploration (I was a bit bored with Maritime Studies.)

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.