| I'll get ya started...mine is a unique situation (specific to major)
1. When did you start thinking about studying abroad? (start the process and all)
I always loved to travel and decided to seriously consider study abroad programs when I found there was a field camp requirement to my major.
2. Where did you eventually choose to go? (un/developed country, sea program)
I chose Boston University's geology field camp to western Ireland (it is now held through James Madison University). Yes it was a developed country, but nearly everything I saw was off the beaten path of normal travelers.
3. What kind of a program was it? Why did you choose it? (through your college, another college, an organization, year or semester program, etc.)
It was a 6 week geology field course. I chose this one because it didn't require me to take a full semester off for field camp (ones in Australia/New Zealand and everywhere in the southern Hemisphere operate during our winter). I also had never been to Ireland before and wanted to see what it had to offer.
4. How did you prepare? (mentally, physically, read up on political conditions, study language, etc.)
I should have prepared physically since field camp is a physical endeavor, but the instructors built time into the beginning of the schedule as a boot camp of sorts (got us used to hiking in the back fields/hills of Ireland).
I also prepared monetarily. I applied for scholarship both within my department and at my University. Post-awards, the course only cost me travel and petty spending expenses.
5. Describe your day-to-day life. (including people, environmental conditions, etc.)
Each day we would go into the field by 9am. Some days we were creating geologic maps either in groups or solo, other days were more field-trip oriented where we learned about the geology of certain features in Ireland (such as the Cliffs of Mohr and the Burren). We would get back to our lodging by 6 or 7pm every evening. There, dinner would be waiting for us. After dinner many evenings we had to either ink in our maps or another evening lab-like activity. When we were completed with this activity, students either read for fun or went into the local village pub.
6. How were your courses?
The course taught me more than could imagine and solidified what I had learned in previous courses. It was definately the 'capstone' of my undergraduate career (even if I did take it before senior year...).
7. What do you think about your experience?
It was great, wouldn't trade it for any other field camp. Now the camp starts in Iceland, which would be even more amazing! But, I made lots of life-long friends and it was the experience that convinced me I was graduate school material. |