Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Incredible program that is both exciting and rigorous Past Review

By (Environmental Studies., Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/23/2014 to 12/23/2014 with

Sea Education Association: The Global Ocean

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Leadership skills and group dynamics. Incredibly worthwhile

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 professors were incredibly talented and the academic coursework was very rigorous. I was impressed with the academic quality of this program; I'd say it was comparable to work done at Middlebury.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The housing during the shore component was great. Students are divided up and assigned houses which are all next to each other. They are responsible for buying food with an allowance, cleaning, etc. It's a wonderful environment to be living and interacting with your classmates in. Only drawback is that you get much closer to the people living in your house than your other classmates. And of course the sea component can't be beat, you are living and working on a tall ship.

* Food:

Students make their own food during the shore component which is much better than the sea component, where food is made for you.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* 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

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)

Once you pay for the program all other costs are provided for (minus travel and gear of course, which can get expense if you're headed to colder climates)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50 on souvenirs
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Completely forsake the idea of souvenirs. And stay away from gelato.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • The environment (i.e. on a tall ship on the pacific ocean)
  • The professors
* What could be improved?
  • More free time to enjoy the environment
  • More say in whether you spend more time in lab or on deck
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It was SEA's first time doing this cruise track and it was noticeable; the trip did not run as smoothly as I had been imagining. Needed less port stops and more time at sea, like many of their other trips.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Global Oceans and Change
Course Department:
Instructor: Deb Goodwin
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Fantastic course and professor. Provided an interesting introduction to oceanography.
Credit Transfer Issues: I did not get lab credit for this class but it definitely should count for one. Students spend more time in the lab than I ever did for any classes at Middlebury.
Course Name/Rating:

Conservation Management
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: I think a little too broad of a topic to cover in one semester, maybe should have been more focused.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Directed Oceanographic Research
Course Department:
Instructor: Deb Goodwin
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Incredible course. You get to design and carry out your own research project with equipment and mentoring you could't get anywhere else.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Maritime History and Culture
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Not my favorite class, I felt like it was poorly organized and attempted to cover too broad a topic. Also the focus is definitely on the research paper which takes away from the actual class time.
Credit Transfer Issues: My college was hesitant to count this as a college writing course but I'm glad they finally did because it definitely qualifies. The whole class is based around a large research paper which you have to research, prepare and slowly edit throughout the whole semester.
Course Name/Rating:

Nautical Science and Leadership in a Dynamic Environment
Course Department:
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments: Fun class that is possible nowhere else.
Credit Transfer Issues: College does not accept credit for this class, I don't see anyway around that as it is more a leadership/technical class that doesn't really fit into the liberal arts curriculum.