Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Best experience of my life. Hands down Past Review

By (Business Marketing, University of Denver) - abroad from 08/30/2007 to 12/07/2007 with

Semester at Sea Study Abroad: Make the World Your Campus

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I can say that the experiences had, and the international business knowledge learned has been one of the biggest contributors to starting my own business and running it successfully. Don't believe me? Take a look at www.g-tags.com

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Courses were challenging but very manageable.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Very well run program overall

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

You live on a ship that goes around the entire world!

* Food:

Food on the ship is not the best part. The food in all the countries IS!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It's tough to integrate well with only 5 days in each country. But you do get to experience 10 countries versus 1

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Great onbaord doctor and nursing staff

* 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)

The in-country trips can be expensive, but are well worth it. They are also 100% optional

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $100 including bar tabs..
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Don't go overboard on buying trinkets. There isn't enough room to put them. Take tons of photographs instead!

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

  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Getting to sail around the world and see so many countries.
  • Meeting so many new people and experiencing such cool things with them. - It makes the bonds last forever
  • Taking oceanography while living on the ocean? So cool
* What could be improved?
  • The food on the ship isn't always great. But there's lots of peanut butter and taco night is awesome
  • The ship is somewhat strict about what you can and can't bring onboard - no alcohol, though they give it to you from the bar, and no hookas etc
  • On the final day everyone is so sad to leave. Lots of tears and long hugs
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew how much the trip would mean to me beforehand. It made such a great impact on my life. It's been 5 years since I went and I literally still see the friends I made on a regular basis.

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.