Program Reviews

My experience with SIT Study Abroad in the IHP Health and Community program, Track 1, was life changing, and I do not say this lightly. If you’re someone like me who didn’t want to do the typical semester in Europe route and you’re excited by the idea of discussing real public health issues with the people and communities who are impacted the most, this program is for you. You also don’t have to come from a public health background to do this trip. I’m an English major myself and other people in my group were liberal arts majors as well. The locations of Delhi India, Cape Town South Africa and São Paulo Brazil all have their unique vibes and qualities that make spending time in them special. The workload is definitely not light, but it’s interesting and relevant to the hands on learning we do everyday. Be prepared for packed schedules, constant movement and sometimes overwhelming realities that you witness and learn from in the local communities. Choosing this program was the best decision of my college career if not my life.

The experimental learning offered by SIT gave me a wonderful and rewarding educational experience. The classes and excursions helped me learn about the neoliberal system, non-western perspectives into the social, cultural, and economic situations, and indigenous communities. I learned about the unity and power of the people to resist oppression in the country and the fight for equality and justice. was able to go out of the country for the first time and learn so much more about Chile. I feel like I really learned about myself and was able to get a non-western perspective of life and social conflicts. I'm so grateful for this opportunity.

This was the trip of a lifetime! Traveling to four different countries in the span of one semester was incredible and exposed me to so many different ideas and perspectives. Aside from learning about public health in classes, you are experience learning from your host families, exploring the cities, guest lectures, and rural visits. We had chances to visit hospitals, clinics, museums, and so much more during class time and also had free afternoons to spend as we pleased.
I wouldn't trade my semester for anything, but there definitely were difficult parts as well. There was a lot of moving around, as you are studying in different continents, and you had to learn that there are things that you cannot control. As someone who values consistency and stability, I grew a great deal on this program! You learn to be comfortable with the uncomfortable and make good memories out of not always fun situations!
That being said, I can't recommend this program enough. It was a once in a lifetime experience that opened my eyes to the world.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this program. Orientations in Hawaii and the excursion in Fiji were absolutely amazing - stunning and beautiful islands with delicious food! Although the beauty of the islands and the culture of the people is very loving, there were many difficulties I really wish I was more prepared for. Samoa has a culture that is very inclusive and you feel as though you truly are family with your hosts. I had two host families and by far they were more than kind to me and welcome me into their homes and hearts with open arms. During the week long event in the Amaile Village I was blown away by the native Samoan culture and most of the the love I experienced from my host family. I really did not expect to become so emotionally attached to the people I encountered.

I felt as though women are viewed and approached much differently than in America. I was constantly catcalled and men I did not know always approached me and asked me to follow them or would huddle around me. I felt extremely uncomfortable at times and in a particular instance very unsafe at one point. During orientation it would be a huge improvement if the staff would warn students of dangers we may not know about such as how to tackle issue of extreme heat, unsettling moments with people, and how to navigate yourself on the islands and staying safe. ALSO very important to warn students of what they CAN and CAN NOT EAT. I can not stress this enough.

Staff was very supportive and understanding - I loved the program directors truly out of the bottom of my heart and I felt like they viewed me as family as opposed to just a student. Near the end I think frustrations boiled up a bit both amongst students and with the staff (just a bit) but the same overall feelings of love and support remained.

Academics were interesting but many times staff showed up late or in one instance the professor didn't show up at all. I was really frustrated by how relaxed people always seemed to be - including professors who I'd sometimes try to reach out to or staff at restaurants and fale resorts.

Excursions to fale resort was very memorable and I'm glad for those moments. However, I honestly did not feel like the program invested enough in bring enough water for the three days we were at the resort. We had 12 students in our program and the amount of water we brought for that really was not enough and many students became sick from dehydration or drinking tap water from the bathroom faucet. We were not warned to bring money to buy our own water at the shops because we were assured there would be enough. There was not.

Overall 7/10 - Memorable program but I really wasn't prepared for it or warned of things I thought were crucial. Loving people and staff - amazing experience but be careful.

I decided to travel to Argentina for my semester abroad with a structured program because, unlike many countries in Europe that I would feel comfortable navigating, I felt less familiar with Argentina and South America as a continent. SIT proved to be a very helpful and supportive program throughout the semester. It provided us with many opportunities to travel for leisure, but more importantly, allowed us health opportunities, such as entrance into clinics and shadowing sanitary agents, that we would not have otherwise. Because of this, I think this program would be ideal for students that want experience in health environments and are looking for a global perspective of health systems. This program requires a medium high level of Spanish to experience it fully since it involves all Spanish classes and an internship in Spanish. Overall, this program was a very educational experience that would be ideal for a student who would like to have fun, experience a new culture, learn Spanish, and have fun with the benefit of having a structured program to guide them through the process and provide the social circle of other American students.

I had an incredible experience this semester. This program offers endless opportunities to develop your Spanish and learn about Argentina's public health system. From the classes to all of the hospital and clinic visits, I ended the program with a clear picture of how the Argentine health system works, and it has left me wanting to go back and learn even more. I really enjoyed the amount of traveling we got to do around Argentina during the program to different provinces, and we were offered many unique perspectives of the health system. I especially loved my Spanish class at the University of Buenos Aires and the homestay experience. The program staff are extremely attentive, caring, and diligent and truly only want the best for students in the program. Buenos Aires is a wonderful city to live in and there is always something fun to do or go see. If you're deciding whether or not to do this program, DO IT!

The location was beautiful, the material was interesting and relevant to understanding the culture, society, ecology and economy of Ushuaia, the outdoors were so accessible, and the people are kind, helpful and amazing! I found another place to call home, I became more independent, my Spanish improved a lot, made friends from places all over the US, and spent a lot of time outdoors! It was 100% worth it. I felt very safe walking around by myself, food is affordable, and it's a great environment to continue learning or practice Spanish.

Studying abroad in Rwanda with SIT was truly a unique and extraordinary experience. It gave me the chance to learn about Rwanda's history and post-conflict reconstruction from a variety of perspectives and really learn about peacebuilding from one of the world's greatest success stories. Living with a host family was also a very valuable aspect of my experience. I would not have learned so much about Rwandan culture or been able to practice my language skills to the same extent in any other space: they made me feel at home in Rwanda, and have truly become a second family for me for life.

I would recommend this program to anyone keen for a challenge and fascinating encounter with Rwanda's unique culture.

I absolutely loved this program. I had so much fun, met so many incredible people, and learned so much about both the country of Peru and the Spanish language. The rigorous curriculum of this program challenged me academically and gave me valuable research experience, while also leaving plenty of time for me to enjoy my time there and explore the city. Cusco has so much to offer, from delicious food in the Plaza de Armas to beautiful hiking scenes in the surrounding mountains. The people are very friendly and welcoming, and the city is very safe. I already wish I could go back! I would recommend this program to everyone and anyone.

I definitely learned a lot during my time in Peru thanks to SIT. The classes themselves were mostly lectures followed by group discussions and could be a bit repetitive, but being able to meet with community leaders and members around the country gave me a more well-rounded perspective of the social and human rights we studied than any class I could take back on campus. The workload is fairly light outside of plenty of reading and a few essays, but it just gives you more time to spend with your host families and to interact with the people you meet along the way!