Program Reviews

A truly amazing program. I learned so much more than I could ever get from a classroom. I made amazing lifelong friendships with students from all across the country. I got to experience life like a local through my homestay, which made me feel more confident walking around the city and using my Spanish. Within the classes we got to travel throughout the beautiful country of Argentina and learn from Indigenous communities, activist groups, professors, lawyers, etc. I would highly recommend this program.

Studying abroad in Buenos Aires was one of the best decisions I've made. I learned so much through my classes, internship, and day to day life in the city. Being able to see public health from a different perspective helped me grow both academically and personally. The program staff were incredibly supportive, my host family made me feel at home, and I made great friends along the way. Of course there were adjustments, like getting used to the late dinners and navigating a new city, but those experiences became part of what made the semester so memorable. I came home more confident, more independent, and even more excited about pursuing a career in public health. I would definitely choose this program again and recommend it to anyone looking for a meaningful study abroad experience.

Get ready to check off bucket list items while engaging in fascinating research in some of the most biodiverse spots on the planet! You simply can’t get this in a classroom. As a biochemistry major with a love for ecology, I didn’t feel left behind in terms of background knowledge and was able to immerse myself in inspiring and satisfying field work. I even got to relate my ISP back to my major, gaining valuable internship experience along the way. I even learned about careers that bridge my passions, helping me visualize other future paths for myself and expanding my vision of what’s possible. I gained so much confidence, learned so many new skills, made great friends, and had SO much fun along the way. Not to mention great adventures like snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef and hiking through the Daintree rainforest! If you love science, adventure, and planet Earth, you’ll love this program!

During my study abroad, I leaned into the present moment and was able to gain new experiences and have wild adventures every day. This program was great for practicing and improving my Spanish skills. I loved having research-based classes, and my independent research project was the highlight of my semester. The last month is completely self-designed, and gives each student the freedom to focus on what they are really passionate about. It may feel overwhelming at times, but is truly worth it and was the most valuable learning I did.

When I left for Chile initially, I will admit to being nervous. Many of my friends were going abroad together to larger programs more endorsed by my school, or to English speaking countries with diminished cultural barriers. However, I knew that I wanted a more unique experience, and one that was also justifiable with my pre-health aspirations. The SIT Chile program was truly that and so much more, and I am so glad I left my comfort zone to pursue it! In this review I will talk about a few of my favorite places we visited.

Our journey began in Santiago, but the next stop of Arica was where we spent the majority of our time. In Arica, I had the opportunity to integrate into a loving and supporting host family, with whom I talked for hours over meals, went on weekly ice cream trips, had fun at the beach, went on shopping trips to the mall, grocery store, and corner store, and more. They were the family I spent most of my time with, and by the end of the program I had become incredibly close with them.

Near Arica, we visited the city of Putre. Putre was my favorite place of the entire trip, however I will admit this occurred after an rocky start. When I first arrived, while I got along perfectly fine with my host family, I did not feel the strongest of connections. However, when I ultimately decided to return alone for my internship period, the program was exceptionally accommodating in allowing me to change to a different host family with whom I had interacted with. I became very close with my second host mother, who worked at the hospital I was doing my internship at. She would pack lunches for me, watch movies with me, and helped me integrate into the hospital community with whom outside of work I would go out to eat or get pizza and play card games. During my internship in Putre, I was completely integrated into the local community despite being the only white person. In my internship I had the opportunity to go on rounds in the breathtaking surrounding communities and assist the staff in delivering primary care in the rural Chilean Altiplanos. In the community I had the opportunity to partake in the Aymaran Cruz de Mayo festival, which involved singing, dancing, hiking and eating traditional Chilean barbeque. I became very close with the Aymaran indigenous medicine doctor who worked alongside western medical practitioners in the hospital, and during this festival he essentially adopted me into his family. I also had the opportunity to participate in the Aymaran K'illpa in the nearby community of Visviri, who also accepted me with open arms. Being accepted into and experiencing the communities of Putre and Visviri has left a profound impact on me, and I am so grateful to the SIT Chile program for facilitating this.

A few of my other favorite places we visited during my time in Chile with our program were Temuco, Entre Rios (near Nueva Imperial) and Pucón. These southern cities were incredibly green, with visually stunning rolling hills, lakes and coastal towns. They also held strong ties to the local indigenous Mapuche culture. In Entre Rios, I was fascinated to learn how an incredibly strong traditional Mapuche indigenous culture works in combination with the western medical system. I also lived with a large family on their farm for week, where I enjoyed banter with my host sister, assisting the middle aged family members on the farm, and being spoiled with delicious traditional Chilean meals by the grandparents. Temuco was a larger bustling town, a capital of the south, while Pucón was essentially an alpine vacation getaway.

Separate from the program with a few friends during long weekends we also visited La Paz and San Pedro de Atacama. If you go on this program be sure to make time for independent travel, as the experiences I had in these locations were amazing.

Overall, the program provided me with exceptional support from both the directors and host families. The experience and global health minor I gained will be directly applicable to my future aspirations in pre-health. The academics were usually lighter, although there were times which were demanding. However, I always found that putting in effort was enough to warrant good grades, even with my initial difficulties of Spanish mastery. If you are willing to put yourself out there and experience immersion into a beautiful culture, then this is the program for you!

I studied abroad in Cusco, Peru, in Fall 2025 through SIT Peru: Indigenous Peoples and Globalization. I absolutely loved this program! The immersive learning was the best aspect. We visited Indigenous communities, including Huilloc, Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon, and Taquile Island. Machu Picchu was also on the itinerary, of course. There is no substitute for actually visiting these places. These experiences helped me understand the course material and develop empathy in a way that classroom learning alone could not.

I had an amazing experience with my host family in Cusco. I am still very close with them, and they are like a second family to me! They introduced me to their extended family, took me on day trips, different restaurants, and really helped me get to know Cusco. I still carry a pendant with their family crest on my keychain.

Cusco itself was also a major part of why I loved the program. The city has many museums, Inca archaeological sites, restaurants, and opportunities for hiking and day trips, including Humantay Lake. Living there gave me time to explore both the historic center and everyday life outside the main tourist areas. My neighborhood felt very safe, and the program classes were a ten-minute walk away.

Our Spanish classes were held at a local school. Our small class became close with our professor, and my Spanish improved. For the program classes, different lecturers come in, and the material is very interesting, focusing on Peruvian and indigenous history.
Prospective students should know that this is different from a typical university exchange. You are not enrolled at a local university, and classes are only with your SIT cohort. Cultural immersion comes through your host family, excursions, research, and your effort to explore Cusco and meet people. There is less unstructured time for hobbies or travel. However, this structure allows for community visits and direct learning about Indigenous cultures that would be difficult through a standard exchange.

The independent research process was in Spanish, including interviews, the final paper, and presentation. I became close with the family I stayed with during research, and I still have the contact information of Indigenous women textile weavers I met and have spoken with some since returning home.

Students should prepare for basic living conditions during some community stays. On Taquile Island, accommodations had limited running water, no hot water, and early mornings. These stays were difficult, but also one of the program’s greatest benefits. We worked on chacras, participated in local activities, and even attended a wedding!
I strongly recommend the program, but students should be ready for unfamiliar environments and moments of loneliness or doubt. Those feelings are normal and should not be taken as a sign not to do the program. For me, it was life-changing. I met incredible people, broadened my understanding of Peru and Indigenous communities, and formed relationships I expect to maintain for the rest of my life. I would without hesitation make the same decision again.

Oaxaca clarified my future ambitions, made me reflect on my interpersonal relationships because of the depth of kindness I found in complete strangers, introduced lifelong friends and some of the funniest and most dedicated people I've ever met, taught me about what community efforts can humbly accomplish, and brought back a piece of myself that was lost in a lot of rush and struggle that this new pace of life and focus on more pressing issues washed out. The city is vibrant, walkable, full of things to taste and learn and hear and question. The wonderful coordinators and excursions were highlights of the semester.

I absolutely loved this program. I came to Argentina with limited Spanish, and it improved exponentially. I loved living with a host family, taking the subway to school, joining run clubs, exploring the city, and going to asados! The people of Argentina are so lovely and welcoming.

I learned so much in my classes, and loved that we got to travel as part of the program. Mendoza was unforgettable, and I loved getting to learn about NGOs. Also, the internship aspect was the coolest opportunity, and I learned so much.

This program taught me SO much about the health system, the culture of Argentina, Spanish, and myself! I got to explore South America, and officially feel confident in my Spanish.

This program was so impactful for my understanding and appreciation of the beautiful world we live in! SIT is deeply invested in experiential learning - we went on so many excursions and met many professors / NGO directors / artists / museum staff / and more fantastic characters who were eager to share their excitement about their work and passions. (One man we met is a famous artist who lived in Barcelona for decades, and now lives in a remote home in the hills of Chefchaouen, running a small hostel whose goal is to bring together young men and women in the local area to help bridge the gender gap in Morocco. You will meet many characters like this during your time in the Sevilla program.)

Living with a host family was the perfect way to acculturate myself to Sevilla and practice Spanish. If you get placed with Reyes - you’ve been blessed! SIT’s directors were supportive in helping me adjust to life in a homestay.

The academics are as challenging and meaningful as you make them. I found expectations to be low compared to your typical college experience. However, the material is very interesting so it was easy to stay engaged and motivated. Plus, you can incorporate your experiences with excursions, homestays, and other hands-on moments into what you’re learning - which I actually think can provide more insight than long readings or essay assignments.

If you’re curious about human relations on small and large scales - politics, movements, social change, social UNchange, language, etc - you will find meaning in this program. (In other words, if you study anthro, sociology, psych, IR, polisci, history…)

Great program, excellent directors, incredible location. Go for it and make the most of it! xx

My time abroad in Ushuaia was awesome. Exciting and unique; an extremely outdoorsy and rugged experience. I mean, come on-- I got to go to Antarctica! I got comfortable being dirty and learned to love it. I grew into my capability for doing anything I put my mind to.

My host mom was wonderful. I couldn't have asked for a better stay. She took me in as her "daughter" and showed me around, taking me to do local activities, to her favorite restaurants, and on a road trip. Granted, some other students didn’t have as much luck, but if they were truly uncomfortable the program directors found another family to relocate the students to, each time being a large improvement.

The program directors were awesome. truly treated us like adults but showed up time and time again, proving beyond doubt that our well-being was of utmost priority. The cohort of students is small (mine was 17 students but I know recent programs have been about ~25); so it’s nice to have a group to do everything with, but if you thrive in crowds or are looking to study at a local university, maybe reconsider how you want your study abroad community to look.

The academics were great. Two words: EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. We learned so much from so many different sectors; tourism, fisheries, biology, culture, economy. We learned in so many different places, too: classrooms, museums, mountains, beaches, plains. I practiced my Spanish constantly. The one critique is that I wish my Spanish language class would have been a little more intensive. I think I could’ve learned more in the time we had.

If you want a true adventure, to immerse yourself in Spanish language and Argentine culture, to be outside, and to learn with your senses with a small group, this is the program for you.