The Ocean is Your Classroom August 08, 2024
By A student (Maritime Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/21/2024 to 05/16/2024 with
Williams College: Mystic - Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program
Williams-Mystic is less of a study abroad program and more of a study away program. I learned about all of the bodies of water that the United States touches: the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Maine, the Caribbean Sea, and both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. In these places, I experienced diverse coastal communities and learned how their ways of life are important and often threatened. This experience was equally anthropological as it was political or scientific, and I gained experiences that would never have manifested without the connections and spirit of the Williams-Mystic connections.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
With the amount of traveling and learning in the field done within the program, the typical "academics" portion of class and homework is condensed into about 14 weeks for 4 full time classes and a lab. With the amount of individual research projects done it takes a lot of time and effort, but students were prepared and supported well by staff and faculty. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
The food stipend allowed me to cook freely and not worry about feeding myself for the first time in my life. I greatly appreciated the security and comfort that offered me. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I travelled the oceans, gained sailing and practical science experiments, lived with a group of really great people, and had opportunities to learn things I never would have been able to learn in a different setting. |
Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | ~$100 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The mental and physical stress of travelling and bouncing back between the field seminars and traditional schooling can be a tough adjustment. |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
