My most meaningful semester of college Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

SAS's faculty is top-notch. The courses are not as difficult as ones at my home campus, but this is only due to the nature of the program. The schedule does not allow for grueling classes, and the faculty is understanding of setbacks that come from living on a ship. Although the classes were at a lesser level than ones I had taken at home, I learned more on my Semester at Sea than I have in any semester at home. The discussions that develop between student, faculty, staff members and lifelong learners are intelligent and meaningful. I learned more about myself and the world around me through interactions on the ship, which is something that is very special and exclusive to this program. Nowhere else will I ever find myself literally "stuck" with people for an extended period of time without technology - forcing us to talk to one another - like I was on SAS, and for this, I am extremely grateful.

On-site administration of your program

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The cabins were on the smaller side, but completely bearable. Knowing I was going to live on a ship, I anticipated a small living space and was surprised by how roomy they really are. There is ample storage space (and I was even in a triple - plenty of space!) If the size of your room is really an issue, you can pay more and be put in a larger room, but in my opinion it's not necessary at all. Most of my time was spent out of my room, and the time spent in my room was completely fine. The ship is extremely well kept, and the crew rocks. Cabin stewards clean rooms every other day and do a stellar job. The rest of the ship is kept in pristine shape at all times. The ship was so fancy and the staff took extremely good care of it.

The food gets monotonous, but for living in the middle of the water, the program does an excellent job of trying to provide variety. It gets difficult to deal with during the long stretches at sea, so I suggest trying to eat as much as you can off the ship while in port.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The integration into cultures does not come with the program, since we're moving around constantly. If you really want to experience a culture, you have to make it happen for yourself. For me, this happened by talking to as many different locals in the cultures as I could. These interactions still only give a taste of the culture, but you won't feel immersed in any way if you only sight-see or stick to the ship's programs. Your level of integration into cultures is totally up to you.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The ship's medical team met all my needs. They are open for a limited each day, but are available anytime in an emergency. I needed a lot of vaccines before embarking. It took a lot of preparation because we visited several places that have different medical threats than at home.

The deans provide a safety presentation before arrival in each port. These presentations sometimes seemed pointless, but they offered information to help us around and of things to watch out for.

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

This program is extremely expensive. I was able to live on a student's budget, but it took a lot of hard work beforehand. At one point, I was working 4 jobs in order to save up for it, but it was completely worth it. All in all, I spent approximately $7,000 in addition to the program's cost during my semester. I would say this is an average amount. There were people who spent much more, and much less. Budgets of all kinds can work on SAS. I know it sounds pretentious coming from someone who has already gone, but if you are really interested in going on SAS, you can make it happen. Loans, scholarships, and grants help, but you'll have to work hard. And it is SO worth it.

Select all that apply

• Dorm
• Host Family
• Apartment
• Hotel
• Hostel

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• Americans
• International Students
• Host Family

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• Americans
• International Students

• The mix of people
• The opportunity to visit so many different places
• Faculty

• Getting away from the village-tourism industry
• Price (although I understand why it is high)

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