How to Save Money on Semester at Sea! Travel on a Budget & Get Lower Tuition Costs! MUST KNOW TIPS!

[@shellyhorst5361]

These tips are fantastic! You could also title this--"Money saving tips every parent should know before their student travels abroad!"

[@jessshorst]

Maybe you should make that list and then share it with me to make a video about, haha!

[@catherinechen5284]

This is really helpful. I’m still in middle school but I plan on going once I’m in college

[@jessshorst]

that’s so exciting!! you’ll be so prepared by the time you go :)

[@annaberkowitz4231]

me too!

[@alicialee8773]

Great video! It’s been my dream to go on semester at sea. I was wondering if you can make a video talking about and/or demonstrating how to plan independent travel on ship in the ocean with bad wifi. Thanks!

[@jessshorst]

Yes I will! Probably in the next week or so :) and I hope you get to go on a voyage, that'd be so great!!!

[@alicialee8773]

Jess Horst Thank you so much! You’re awesome🥰🤙

[@reginajhzz]

really good tips ,this things alot of people don't say

[@jessshorst]

Thanks! Let me know if there is anything else you'd like to hear about!

[@cincosenoritas1926]

I really like what you said about Monchu Picchu- about saving the money you probably would’ve spent on the trip and that one day you can probably go on your own and stay longer. I didn’t think about that haha

[@jessshorst]

it’s so true! traveling through the ship can be so overpriced, and you could probably do way more using that money to travel on your own :)

[@jessshorst]

glad it was helpful!!!!!

[@oshwosh24]

Wow this was actually super helpful! Thank you! Planning on going on the spring 2021 voyage!

[@jessshorst]

That’s amazing!! You’re gonna have a great time 😊❤️

[@oshwosh24]

Thank you!!

[@lisamedla]

Oh dang it I'm considering fall the same year😊

[@hedywatrous188]

Please do a video on older students

[@lalaland480]

I loved the tips ! I’m going on the fall 20 voyage this year and need all the advice I can get. Thank you!!

[@jessshorst]

ah so excited for you!! it’s gonna be awesome :)

[@India-dj2wn]

Your tips are all super helpful! Could you make a video about SAS policies and what it's like sleeping on the ship when you are in port? And also what it was like making friends on the ship?

[@jessshorst]

Yes I think the policy video would be super helpful -- anything else specific you'd want to hear about in that one?? I'll probably make it in the next few weeks!

[@jessshorst]

And making friends was pretty easy... a lil scary at first because I came into it knowing NO ONE! But I found out that a lot of people sign up alone, so everyone is looking to make friends at first. I ended up being good friends with my roommate (randomly assigned), and then met my other really good friends in classes on the first few days, and at meals! Like just sat down with someone new, and we became best friends by the end of the trip :)

[@jessshorst]

I actually get a lot of questions about making friends -- would a video on that be helpful? Like how it was knowing nobody at first?

[@alyssaemmae3279]

If you don’t mind me asking, roughly how much was your tuition after scholarships?

[@lexiedgrooms5361]

When I go I'm going to take pictures of of country that's a souvenir

[@jessshorst]

great idea!!

[@Sashaa555]

Thank you so much I am thinking about applying for Spring 2021 🎉🙌🏽

[@jessshorst]

YES so excited for you!!!

[@thekatekiss1297]

Thanks !

[@jessshorst]

glad it was helpful 😊

[@hannahgolay6655]

How long did it take for them to get back to you about you getting accepted??

[@jessshorst]

So the thing that makes your acceptance take a while is that you have to wait until your transcript gets to them. So once you send that out I would allow at least a week for them to get it and process it. If all other application materials are completed, it should take about a week for them to look through your transcript and accept you. I think I waited two weeks total after starting my application because mail was slow, but it shouldn't take too long!

[@elizevisserr1648]

Super helpful!!

[@JohnnyReliable]

Great video. Saving money is so important. I just did a video to help save money fast, too!

[@jessshorst]

I'll check it out!

[@yasminebensai7876]

This is so awesome !!!!!

[@jessshorst]

thank you!!!!! i hope it helped ☺️

[@samileigh6483]

this was so so helpful! thank you!!

[@jessshorst]

of course!! happy to help ☺️

[@lagaexplore]

Nice

[@macchan9518]

Thank you soooo much!! This is such a great video!!! Can you talk about how others accidentally got into troubles on your voyage? Are there any strikes system to get a second chance if you actually get caught for sth?

[@jessshorst]

i probably shouldn’t share anyone’s personal stories but i do know that more than one person got asked to leave my voyage, and others had to talk to the deans! if you do something minor they’ll have you meet with a dean and maybe fill out a disciplinary form to say that you won’t do something again and state why it was wrong, so in that sense there is a system where you get second chances! however, if you do something clearly against their rules like bringing illegal drugs back on the ship you probably won’t get a second chance!

[@mayaetkin4789]

this is so helpful thank you so much

[@jessshorst]

:))

[@elisabethsummer_]

what kind of room did you have!?

[@jessshorst]

Ahh I applied really late for my voyage, like in the march/april before we embarked in september of the same year, so rooms were really full and there wasn’t much space left. So even though I put every cheaper option first, I still got put in an outside double because that was all that was left! That is why in my videos I recommend applying as soon as you know when you want to go so you can get the room you want!

[@emmarylie3266]

random question but do you know which sea color you are before you go on the ship to buy accessories like purple colored ones or red in advance?

[@jessshorst]

Ugh no you don't, I had the same question before I went on the voyage because I didn't want to just bring a shirt in every color of the rainbow and waste space... you don't find out until your 2nd or 3rd day on the ship!

[@jessshorst]

I brought small things in every color though, like scrunchies and hair stuff -- you could also bring like rainbow glitter? That'd be an easy way to accessorize but like light enough and small enough that it won't take up too much space in your luggage.

[@emmadavieslopez5982]

How early in advance do the annouce the voyages/ put them up on the website? For example when is Fall 2022 going to be announced?

[@jessshorst]

Hmm that's a difficult question! When I was on my Fall 2019 Voyage I think during it they announced the Spring 2022 voyage, so I'd bet in the next few month that will be up!

[@jessshorst]

Sorry I don't have a more exact answer! But it won't be too long :)

[@emmadavieslopez5982]

Jess Horst thank you so much! That’s helps😊

[@emmadavieslopez5982]

Jess Horst its super helpful dw! Also I love your videos, it’s making me look forward to applying and hopefully going :)

[@jessshorst]

@@emmadavieslopez5982 You totally should apply! It's honestly such a blast, I wish I could go again!!

[@Juanislj]

Hi! For the rooms, do you get assigned a random roommate or how does it work? Also, did you know anyone on the ship before your trip?

[@jessshorst]

If you know someone else that is going on your voyage and you want to room with them, you can request a roommate! But if you don't have someone to request, you get assigned randomly. I think that when they do random assignments however they try to put you with someone your same age, because I went when I was 19 turning 20 during the trip, and was paired with a 20 year old as well, but I knew someone who was 23 who was also paired with a 23 year old... so it's sorta by age but mostly random!

[@jessshorst]

And no, haha, I knew absolutely no one! I was sorta scared about that, but I became good friends with my roommate right away, and then met my ship besties in my classes and at meals!

[@ashliynburgos6555]

Do you have to completely pay for the program BEFORE you go or can you pay it down while you're there?

[@jessshorst]

you get to decide whether or not you want to pay all at once, or in monthly increments! most people have their accounts set up so they autopay smaller increments throughout the voyage 👍🏻

[@Ava-bi2te]

hey!! great video and tips, do you know whether scholarships can cover personal costs (like vaccinations, visas and airfare)? thanks :)

[@jessshorst]

I don't think they can :( Pretty sure they're only applicable to tuition, and the trips planned by SAS in-country/ things that happen once you're already on the ship.

[@jessshorst]

There are a few scholarships that cover flights, such as the Inclusive Engagement scholarship, which is open to all students but preference will be given to students from underrepresented identities (Race/Ethnic Minorities, Students with Disabilities, First Generation, Low-Income, LGBTQIA+, Religion, Veterans)... here's a link to some of the scholarships listed on their site (more will probably be specified once you sign up for your voyage and can actually apply for them!) - www.semesteratsea.org/admission-aid/scholarships/

[@Ava-bi2te]

@@jessshorst Okay, thank you very much!! I will have a look into that scholarship now

[@jessshorst]

@@Ava-bi2te Yeah apply for as many as you can, you might get a lot!

[@meganc1833]

Can get a scholarship and not use it for a couple of years?

[@jessshorst]

Nope, so you apply for the scholarships once you apply for your voyage! So you have to be accepted into the program first and know which voyage you'll be going on before you start the financial aid part of things!

[@meganc1833]

@@jessshorst Thank you! One more question. Can you apply for a voyage a few years in advance because I know the voyages get filled really quickly?

[@jessshorst]

@@meganc1833 You can sign up as soon as they post the newest itineraries! So right now they have posted through Spring 2022, so you could sign up for that one right now if you wanted! And then I'm sure the next voyage will be posted in a few months as well.

[@meganc1833]

@@jessshorst okay thank you so much!!!

[@carolkojo]

hi! i’m really curious about how much scholarship you received, and how much people you have meet have received as well

[@jessshorst]

i haven’t been sharing how much i got in aid, because it’s like... my family’s tax information lol 😬 but i did know a girl who went on the trip literally for free!!! so she applied to a ton of scholarships and used her fafsa information for that, so sas actually does give out a fair amount of scholarships!

[@elizevisserr1648]

How expensive are the sweaters and shirts from Sas? (On the ship)

[@jessshorst]

I got a tshirt and it was $10, and they have a huge variety of different clothes like sweatpants and jackets as well. Most people bought a sweatshirt, but idk about sweater options!

[@jessshorst]

And the sweatshirts are 30-40 dollars!

[@hannaurbach5209]

Hi! I've got a little question. How do you study at the ship without wifi? Or do you have wifi for school things?

[@jessshorst]

haha yes that is a bit confusing, i have a video on the wifi situation where i talk all about it if you haven't watched that yet! kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqKke4aMgdx5rqM

[@jessshorst]

but basically there is a specific ship wifi that allows you to access assignments and documents for your classes and submit things online, but it doesn't work for using instagram or youtube or stuff like that. basically you won't have to do much research for your classes, so you don't need internet that much -- it's all pretty lecture based and based in the text and on experiences you have in the countries!

[@jessshorst]

but that video should really help, there's a lot to go over when it comes to wifi/my recommendations for how to handle it all!

[@hannaurbach5209]

@@jessshorst thank you so much!

[@aliahgarcia3689]

Is fundraising a good option for financial purposes

[@jessshorst]

of course!!! yes that’s a great idea

[@jerricalomas1212]

can u get 2 scholarships in one semester?

[@jessshorst]

yep! you absolutely can, so apply for as many as possible!

[@sara1684]

Hi! Thank you for the tips, love your videos! I was wondering: can a non-american student apply? I'm from Europe, I'm in college, and most of my classes are in English. But in our system, the GPA is different. Do you know if I could apply anyway? thank you

[@jessshorst]

That is a great question... I know there were tons of international students on my voyage, but I’m wondering if they all went to school in the US or not... I don’t think they did, so I’m pretty sure it is possible for you to apply!

[@sara1684]

@@jessshorst Thank you so much !! :)

[@jessshorst]

Ah! I actually just looked it up and you totally can!! Look up Semester at Sea and International students and you’ll find guidelines for the application process!!

[@sara1684]

@@jessshorst :D thank you for checking!!!

[@marieblueberryblanket4531]

can you do it if your from UK?

[@jessshorst]

Yes you can! Here’s a link of things to know if you’re applying as an international student www.semesteratsea.org/admission-aid/requirements/international-student-admission-requirements/

[@jessshorst]

@@marieblueberryblanket4531 I didn't know anyone from the UK personally, but there were for sure students from around the world! For sure Germany, Greece, Serbia the Ukraine, Croatia, Japan, China, Brazil & Mexico, so not just students from the US!