Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The trip to the DR was a wonderful and enriching life-changer! Past Review

By (Utica College) - abroad from 11/28/2016 to 12/09/2016 with

Utica College: Occupational Therapy in the Dominican Republic

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
1. Insight into life in the DR. 2. A view of the OT profession in the DR. 3. An understanding of individual needs within the DR. 4. A comparison of best practices in the OT profession. 5. An understanding of the disparity of resources across individuals and how that has only a minor bearing on the happiness factor.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Excellent support and accommodations. Overall willingness of administrators to meet our needs.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had some concerns with safety (i.e. doors not locking) however no issues arose.

* Food:

We were well taken care of with food and our various hosts were so so gracious. Variety was somewhat lacking.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Within the experience, we were not fully immersed into the culture however had many beneficial interactions with folks.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Health issues fortunately did not arise. We came prepared with a variety of over the counter measures which worked.

* Safety:

We were informed ahead of time to be careful in specific situations. No safety concerns arose. I appreciated the various warnings so that we could be protected.

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

It was valuable through and through.

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)

Fine work here . . . handing out the $ for meals / expenses alleviated any concerns for food / souvenirs while in the DR.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent $250 for food / souvenirs / other expenses.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I thought it worked well to hand out the $ to the participants based on what the trip cost.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
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 variety of opportunities at the centers, cities, and outskirts..
  • The ability to work with a variety of individuals.
  • The possibility of making a difference in elevating practice wihin that country.
* What could be improved?
  • More time for organization ahead of time to prepare for the various events. This was a challenge due to the # of individuals on the trip and the variety of opportunities provided. Individuals expended numerous hours planning ahead of time but additional time would have been better.
  • Perhaps more time spent at specific facilities to have more of an impact at that center.
  • More insight into what the individual professionals wanted for information at each center in order to assist in the teaching / learning process.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Greater understanding of what individuals would like to learn from us while we are there.

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.