SIT Study Abroad

My experience studying abroad abroad with SIT Nepal was easily the highlight of my undergraduate education. The program was amazing and catered to different study abroad goals. I feel that learned a great deal while still having time to explore a new culture and city. I think the program's most formative and unique aspects were the experiential learning components from conducting research in the Ladakh high-altitude desert to participating in Tihar celebrations in Helambu. I certainly learned far more than I anticipated coming into the program, from the plight of Tibetan refugees to climate change in the Himalayas and traditional architecture. Regardless of your interest, you'll likely cover something related to your academic focus in the program and the staff are willing to go above and beyond to encompass diverse cohort interests. The course titles make the program appear far more narrow than it actually is.

It's hard to summarize just how much I gained from the program, from lifelong friends and mentors to truly incomparable experiences like residing with host families on the Tibetan plateau in India. It feels surreal to look back at the diversity of experiences that were encompassed in a few months. I left the program a different person and with a greater understanding of my academic interests. From the combined experience of excursions and the independent study period, I gained greater confidence to live and conduct research in foreign places. Ultimately, I left the program with a greater appreciation of the Himalayas as a region rich in culture, history, and politics. I left with a greater hunger to explore and curiosity about the rest of the world. I feel indebted to the program in many ways.

I had the opportunity to travel abroad with SIT Study Abroad during their summer program in Indonesia. I was able to go with the funding of the Gilman scholarship and their critical need language award. We were mostly based in Bali and then traveled to Nusa Penida, Borneo, Java, then back to Bali. I was there for six weeks, and it was a very much a fast-paced program. It felt like we were always on the move, but it was also nice because we were always keeping busy and seeing so many new parts of Indonesia. I do want to add that as a vegan, it's very hard to keep up with this on the program, let alone being vegetarian. But overall, I loved the program and met so many amazing people that I still keep in touch with. I had so many great experiences:)

I studied abroad in Panama enduring a hands-on experience in environmental science through extensive field work in varying tropical environments, focusing on marine ecology and blue carbon conservation in both the Caribbean and Pacific oceans. We performed field work in coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, the open ocean and intertidal zones. We engaged in classes, presentations, assessments and an independent research project. We partook in adventurous excursions to islands, cities and national parks. I was able to establish new personal and professional connections with peers and educators in the environmental science field. The friends I made along the way are unforgettable! The professors and advisors were extremely positive, encouraging and intelligent. This was a jam-packed intense travel, I miss the chaos every day! This experience was very special!

I loved the academic and the culture-immersion of my program! It was amazing to have a lot of excursions all around the country (so prepare to be packing every single weekend). I lived with a host family, whom I absolutely loved and were one of my biggest supporters and cared for me. I loved all of the friendships I made and all of our fun outings! The administration was amazing and I enjoyed getting to know them individually. I hope to come back to Argentina soon and reconnect with all of them! I am sure that these are connections that I want to maintain for a long time <3

My time in Chile with SIT was truly amazing. We stayed with host families, which gave me an unparalleled understanding of Chilean culture. The best part of the program was that we got to travel to the north and south of Chile, which gave me a more in-depth understanding of Chile than I would have gotten just staying in central Chile. The program team was absolutely incredible, and I felt really supported during the independent study period for the last month of the program. Valparaíso is a very hilly city, though, so be ready to walk up a lot of hills lol.