Having trouble deciding where to study abroad? Sure, London and Madrid sound fabulous, but how about somewhere a little more exotic, like Morocco or Kenya? Decisions, decisions!
But wait – you might actually not have to choose at all. Have you heard of Semester at Sea? If you’re interested in studying abroad and haven’t heard of it, you should definitely check it out. While it’s not for everyone (think seasickness or claustrophobia), some people absolutely love it.
Basically, Semester at Sea is just what it sounds like. You get on a ship, you take classes (for credit! Just remember to make sure they’re transferable to your home college) and you stop and visit a bunch of different countries. You don’t take any classes when you’re on dry land, according to Frances, a Syracuse University senior, who went on Semester at Sea this past summer.
The first ship for Semester at Sea actually took off in 1963 – how crazy is that!? Back then, the program was called University of the Seven Seas, and it stopped at 22 ports in 16 different countries! These days, the cruise has around 720 students per semester (fall, spring and summer), you get to choose your cabin (from “economy” to “suite” – of course, suites are more expensive) and you even have internet access (I didn’t even know that was possible to have on a ship)!
While on the cruise, you can take tons of different courses, from biology to marketing to history and religion (Semester at Sea recommends you take your hardest courses back home – seasickness and homework are not a good combination!). You can even look at the course schedule and syllabus for each class online, check out upcoming trip itineraries or virtually follow the current voyage (this one’s for nervous parents, I’m guessing) and read about the faculty and staff.
Since studying at sea is just like studying abroad, if you’re interested, you should meet with your school’s study abroad office and see if your financial aid will cover it.
Semester at Sea is not for me (I suffer from horrible motion sickness), but it might be right for you! Check it out and let us know what you think!