Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Incredibly Life Changing September 25, 2025

By (The American University of Rome) - abroad from 01/05/2025 to 04/20/2025 with

Semester at Sea Study Abroad: Make the World Your Campus

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Throughout this program I was able to gain global and personal understanding that I would not have received in any other program. Semester at Sea forces you to reflect on yourself as well as your place and impact on the world that surrounds you.

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.

This program recruited some of the best professors who care enormously about the education and futures of their students.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Field programs, Field Classes, and the chance for solo travel gave me so many opportunities to become integrated with the local culture in each port.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

The program is very aware of student safety and if there are safety issues that the students need to be aware of it is brought up along with best practices.

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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? See which of the field programs you can book on your own and which ones are unique to the Semester at Sea program before booking the field programs.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Other
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

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

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The Travel
  • Staff and Crew
  • Community Building
* What could be improved?
  • Dining Hours
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish that I had known to check which field programs I can book on my own and which ones are worth booking through the program.

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.