IAmA graduate of the Semester at Sea program

Did anyone get pregnant on the boat?

Not that I’ve heard, but it’s certainly possible

This post was submitted 15 minutes ago an is already on my front page... something seems off here. Can we get some proof?

Sure!! What kind of proof do you want?

What were you studying?

I took coursework in Tourism, Hospitality, and International Studies. We were all required to take “Global Studies”, which taught us about the countries on our voyage itinerary. I also took a very interesting course on International Human Trafficking

Do you think you got what you paid for?

Traveling sounds great but $25-30k for only one semester's worth of courses doesn't look like it's worth it to me for all those extra loans.

Yes- I think it was absolutely worth it! I was luckily able to get scholarships to help cover costs

Was this basically suite life on deck?

pretty similar

What was the application process like?

Pretty simple- I remember writing a few essays and sending transcripts

How many people were seasick at first?

SO many!! On the first day of class we were passing through the English Channel (absolutely CRAZY waves) and at least 20 people had to run out of our first lecture 🥴😅

Do you think you'll regret spending 30k on a 3 month cruise when that money couldve easily paid for over a year of much more fulfilling solo world travel?

I will not regret it- it was a very enriching experience that I don’t think I could recreate on my own. :)

How hard/easy was it to do school work? Did you all have enough space?

We definitely had plenty of time for schoolwork- we would attend class in the early morning or afternoon and have the rest of the evening free. There were also days set aside called “Study Days”, just to get caught up and meet with professors

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I started saving money when I was in high school and applied for many scholarships! They have lots of really great financial aid options, it’s not as unaffordable as many think

How was it? Also has it impacted or effected your job search in any way?

It was the most enriching experience of my life! It absolutely changed my job search and I am now working in the Travel & Tourism industry

How old were you when you did it?

I was 20 when I sailed :)

Is this an American thing?

It is for students of all backgrounds- many of my friends on the ship were not American

Did you have a private room or was it more similar to a navy shop with lots of people in one room?

There were single, double and triple rooms!

So have you ever watched suite life on deck?

Yes’m

What was the best country/location you visited?

What was the worst?

Kochi, India was absolutely extraordinary

Myanmar was my least favorite, it was unsafe and a little bit unsettling, however the people were wonderful and I still enjoyed my time there

How was the ride on the ship. By cruise ship standards that's a tiny ship. Did you do any long crossings or just stay within a decent range that didn't find yourself in wide open seas?

We crossed the Pacific, which was a huuuuuge stretch! (Kobe, Japan to San Diego, California)

It was rocky sometimes, but most of the time it was smooth sailing

What are the requirements for this? Are you all students in related degree programs?

There is a GPA requirement and possibly a few others? They accept students of all majors and offer coursework in most ‘common’ fields of study

Have a buddy on SAS right now and one that went last year. Seems like the experience of a lifetime. What culture did you find the most different/surprising?

I thought Japan was absolutely delightful and so advanced

Southern India was also a beautiful place to explore :)

I always wanted to do this but it’s so expensive! Especially for a Canadian. Do you think it should be cheaper? Or it it worth the price?

I think it is worth the price! (Comparable to out-of-state tuition at a big school)

They also have a lot of financial aid opportunities to make the trip more affordable

Would you pay $25k for your kid to take the same program?

I would encourage my children to save money and apply for scholarships if they were really interested in sailing!

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None of the above! Saved up for the trip for about four years and applied for scholarshops