A Cultural Awakening at Spelman! October 03, 2023

By (Spelman College Exchange Program, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/17/2023 to 05/17/2023 with

Spelman College: Atlanta - Domestic Exchange for Visiting Students

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I'm forever a Spelman woman. I know my worth and have the courage to be the voice of change that I hope to see in the world.

Review Photos

Spelman College: Atlanta - Domestic Exchange for Visiting Students Photo Spelman College: Atlanta - Domestic Exchange for Visiting Students Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

There was a plethora of course options that I was not afforded here at Middlebury at least ones that are focused on humanitarian works by African American authors.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The building had air-conditioning!

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Extreme caution when interacting in the Atlanta area is highly advised.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I believe Spelman revamped the academic fire I have been lacking for a while. Being surrounded by like-minded women who were being so freely nerdy and creative was too beautiful to witness.

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)

I was not prepared on the amount of money I had to allocate towards personal needs. Especially not having access to a car and with the inconvenient Atlanta public transportation system, most of my money went towards transportation such as cabs. Also, sometimes the dining halls would close really early and money to eat out became a burden as well.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Discuss work-study transferring over to the exchange institution before going or else you might not be able to get a campus-job off-campus.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* 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 faculty of mostly black women
  • Vibrant HBCU culture
  • Food in the Atlanta area
* What could be improved?
  • Introducing exchange students into the community
  • Dining hall food options
  • Keeping in touch post-program participation
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I would learn more about the HBCU culture and make a bucket list of things to do in the other states in the south.

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 Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Organic Chem II Lab

Course Department: Chemistry
Instructor: Dr. Camp
Instruction Language: English
Comments: The class was not only relevant to the study of higher level organic chemistry, experiments were applicable. We made correlations to how certain chem mechanism are being used to synthesize drugs in the real world and how it impacts specifically women health.
Credit Transfer Issues: