DO IT! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload is large but very fair. It comes at you fast but the fact that it is so interesting and intriguing helps make it less stressful and it is never tedious. There is absolutely no busy work and that is something I think every student can appreciate. If you are struggling with anything the instructors and your class/shipmates are always there and willing to help. The instructors are very approachable and want to help you learn. The time spent out at sea was my favorite. I learned more than I ever imagined I would while sailing. What I really loved about that portion of the program, besides the gorgeous views and the excitement of sailing, was that majority of what I learned was through hands on experiences. Whether it was maneuvering the ship, figuring out where we were with the use of a sextant, the sky and the charts or collecting data for various research projects while learning many different techniques it was ALL hands on. I honestly don't think there is a better way to learn than hands on experiences and SEA Semester is full of opportunities for this. Another aspect that I found very valuable to me and specific to SEA Semester was that we were allowed to mess up. By no means do I mean that it was fine if you screw up big time but we weren't treated like 4th graders and reprimanded by being given a babysitter style talking to. You know when you mess up and on the ship you hold full responsibility for it and you learn from it. You are treated as an adult and I feel that that is something most educational systems lack. After finishing most educational programs students come out terrified of the world in front of them. If you even know a handful of people who just graduated or about to graduate you know this is true for at least some of them if not all of them. In turn when you complete one of the programs with SEA Semester you come out more sure of yourself and confident because you have become used to relying on yourself, taking responsibility and initiative as well as collaborating with others.

On-site administration of your program

If I had to sum up this aspect of the program in one word I would say perfect. The staff, from the admissions office to the teachers and captain to the deckhands and mates, everyone was amazing. Extremely helpful, friendly and respectful. Unlike in larger institutions you will never get the run around or have to climb through a spider web of red tape that I have gotten so used to being frustrated with in a large university. They will also work with you to figure out a way for you to be able to pay for the program which is very helpful.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

On shore: The students live in a cabins. You will share a room with one to two people. Bring your own bedding. There is a full kitchen with all appliances necessary. Each house gets a weekly gift card to the local food store to buy food with. We found it was plenty and figured out among us what we needed. Also it should be mentioned that the ocean is about a 5 minute bike ride away or a 10 to 15 minute walk away. You will definitely want to go swimming at night at least once to see the bioluminescence. Bring a bike, it's fun to ride around town and there is a really great paved trail leading to it. Out at sea: Each student has their own bunk with a curtain for privacy and a light in each bunk. There is some room in the drawers but depending on how many people are sailing with you you may only get one so don't pack more than you need. Yes there are a lot of people living in a small area but for one that is to be expected if you are sailing and two that is more people to clean the ship which is kept cleaner than most of our rooms ever have been.

We were fed better than I could ever expect. On shore you feed yourself so you get what you want but out at sea you eat whatever is made for you that day and you will be amazed at what comes out of the galley. How in the world we got real vegetables, real not canned, in the 4th week of sailing was amazing. I'm sure the huge freezer helped out but I can assure you that the food will be good and you even get a midnight snack which is usually something sweet. You will not be left hungry. What I really appreciated is that they will make reasonable accommodation for you. I sailed with a girl who did not eat gluten and I am vegan and both of us were always well fed. On the other hand if you eat meat you will be happy to hear that you may be treated with fresh fish caught right off the boat.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was lucky enough to be sailing with some of the most amazing people I've ever met who all meshed well together. Of course we got slightly annoyed with each other once in a while but that is to be expected even with your lifelong best friend if you spend every night and day together for a month and a half. The ship was always full of laughter and there was always something knew to learn from each other. It was amazing. The swim calls where the best! There is nothing like jumping off the bowspirt into the ocean. The only thing that gets better is when you get surprised by a snorkeling trip! Since we were out in the open ocean we didn't party on land but we had a "swizzle" every week where we hung out with our shipmates often while listening to someone play guitar and singing along. If you are considering doing the program which will put you out at sea during Halloween and are sad that you will miss the festivities on land, DON'T BE. If you get even half as lucky as I got you will have an amazing Halloween. I don't want to ruin it and every year is different I am sure but you won't believe how awesome it is. You will just have to take my word on it.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Safety is the top priority and is treated very seriously. After sailing with the captain and crew of S-225 I think I will forever be weary of anyone else to be in charge because of the extremely high standard they set. If I was ever to be lost out at sea I would want it to be with this crew because I am sure they would calmly get us back on track in no time and all in once peace. I really can't say enough about them, they were amazing.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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