Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Beauty and the beast: South Africa Past Review

By (Accounting and Related Services., Bentley University) - abroad from 07/13/2012 to 11/15/2012 with

University of Cape Town: Cape Town - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
There is beauty in a lot of unlikely places.

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.

More difficult than would have liked for an abroad program. Took away from some of the experiences of being abroad. Not a lot of student help in the large university.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

South Africa is an amazing place!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

No meal plan or cafeteria but plenty of places to eat at campus.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Americans stand out like sore thumbs.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Safety depends on how smart you are, it is easy to get into trouble if you are asking for it.

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)

Great exchange rate.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 125

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

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International 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?
  • Going outside of comfort zones
  • Doing things that could not be done in the US
  • Exploring new areas of the worls
* What could be improved?
  • Overpaying!!!!
  • Bentley tuition in an African University
  • Not able to take accounting. Going to hurt when I get back and haven't taken an accounting class in a year
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You don't know how you'll like someone until you live with them.

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.