SIT Study Abroad Reviews

SIT Jordan was an outstanding experience. From academics, to social life, to professional opportunities, I felt that SIT offered it all! Academically, I learned a great deal about the country and region from local lecturers, the perspective of SIT administrators, and course readings and discussions. I also improved my FusHa Arabic, and learned a lot of survival Aamiyah which was key during my internship. My cohort of 30 was unusually close, often opting to go out for lunches or nightlife in large groups, and spending a lot of our free time together.

SIT offered amazing excursions to Ajloun, Jerash, Petra, the UAE, and more! When outside of class, I felt completely immersed in Jordanian culture and loved every minute of it.

I had the opportunity to complete an internship as a teaching assistant, and that really improved my speaking skills and confidence, while also giving me a better idea about disability in the Jordanian context.

Amman is a vibrant, lively city with things to do on every corner. I explored Wasat al Balad, tried new foods, found hidden bars, and met locals who were always thrilled to speak with Americans. Jordanians are some of the loveliest, most kind-hearted people out there.

I would not want to have done my semester abroad anywhere else with any other study abroad provider.

I was abroad in Prague for the fall 2019 semester, and I have thought about it every day since! It was an incredible experience unlike any other and exceeded all of my expectations. I adored exploring the city and learned so much about Czech history, literature, and culture. I find myself referencing books and facts I learned all of the time—I've turned into that girl who's always starting conversations with "when I was abroad …" I had the loveliest host family; they really made me feel like I was part of their real family, and it was incredible to have the practical experience of cultural norms rather than just learning about them in the classroom. We lived on the northern outskirts of the city, making my commute to school around 45 minutes, but every minute was worth it because I got to explore different districts and see so many cool landmarks that way. The professors were awesome—they all had firsthand experience with the historical events we learned about—and I still keep in touch with my classmates. My favorite part was definitely the independent study project, where I researched underground literature from the communist era and interviewed some really impressive people who helped create and distribute it! Another thing I loved was being there for the thirtieth anniversary of the Velvet Revolution (the fall of communist rule). If you're in search of an adventure in a super cool city where you can learn a lot about art and history, this program is for you!

This study abroad program takes you to Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rabat, Marrakech, Essaouira, and other Dutch & Moroccan cities. The professors expect students to be fully engaged, to do the work and to participate in small classes. The program center is very close to the center of Amsterdam and the commute to class every day was actually quite enjoyable because of the city's great public transit. Students stay in homestays with friendly Dutch families and fully immerse themselves in their neighborhoods.

My semester in Cameroon was one that I will remember for the rest of my life. Through home-stays, trips and classes, SIT strove to immerse us in the cities that we were studying in. I had wonderful host families that welcomed me into their homes and made me feel at home. Classes were interesting and challenging but tightly linked to what we were experiencing there which made them relevant and important to my growth as a student. My fellow American and Cameroonian students became some of my closest friends and I'm still in touch with many of them. Unfortunately, my semester there was cut short due to Covid-19 and we had to leave abruptly. Leaving was so painful, it felt like I was leaving my family. I really hope that I can return one day soon to see my host siblings and parents, SIT staff who were like older siblings and parents to us, and get to spend more time there. I miss them all so dearly.

Although my experience in the [perhaps too] bustling city of Yaoundé was, tragically, cut short due to COVID-19, I absolutely loved my time on this program. Make no mistake - as other reviews here have mentioned, this program is not for the faint of heart and can be a real challenge. But through it all, I learned about the world economy, the legacy (see: perpetuation) of colonialism, and french in a way I wouldn’t have if not for this program.

I would feel dishonest if I didn’t mention the many, many privileges I was awarded in Cameroon because of my being a white American man. As the only American guy on the program, I was never victim to street harassment in the way my fellow students were nor particularly cautious with strangers’ intentions. I say this not to dissuade you but to give you the most accurate picture you can of the place you may be calling home for a semester.

In any case, I would unequivocally recommend this program. While at times I felt a bit babied (see: 7pm curfew and living in the richest area of Yaoundé), I gained so much from the out of classroom learning and the lecturers. Don’t be afraid to make some friends and experience as much of real Cameroonian life as possible. You won’t regret it - I know I don’t.

Prague and the greater Czech Republic provided some of the best days of my life, new experiences, adjustments, lessons, friendships, and family. Our schedule was full to the gills, with too many amazing optional performances, gallaries, exhibits, and showcases to attend paid for by my program, so long as we were interested(!!) My commute each morning and night to my host family was a 45-50 minute tram ride, giving my time to read and study czech while weaving through the most beautiful city just outside my windows (though most student had a shorter commute). My host family became my second family and they welcomed me into their routine as if I were her oldest daughter and their older sister. I fell in love with my super small program and we all enjoyed each other's company so much; the size allowed us so much fun flexibility for learning spaces and course direction, and I was so lucky to meet the students I did.

Once we were sent home the online courses were good and it was nice to see everyone virtually, but the experiential learning method can not be replicated online.. so yeah, don't plan to study abroad during a global pandemic. But 100% chose this program if you want a once in a lifetime experience with great people, true cultural exposure, and fun once this pandemic ends. Best program ever - experiential learning means exploring and having a good time out in the city as part of the learning, dream program for me.

My experience was amazing and wholesome despite the fact that it was cut short because of the pandemic. It was stressful but SIT handled it well.
The workload in this program is as extensive as you want to make it, this is not to say that you can slack off but that there is still enough room to explore the country and make use of the swiss pass. However, if you choose to spend more time exploring one of your projects you can still arrange for that depending on the circumstances. There are also some opportunities to interact with the locals to understand the culture and build a network for the future. If you enjoy being in a host family to practice your french and build a long-lasting relationship, this is it! Overall, it is a great program and you can make whatever you want to make out of it. Our program included people from many different fields of study, interests, and future goals and that made the program more interactive and unique as each of us was gaining new perspectives.

I knew nothing about Middle Eastern culture except for the stereotypes Americans have towards Islamic culture. I wanted to change that. I want to dispel those stereotypes and gain a true understanding of the Middle East, and the best way to do so is by going there. My time in the SIT Geopolitics program was the perfect gateway to be exposed to such a beautiful region in the world. Unfortunately, our program was cut short from COVID-19, but I left Jordan with basic Arabic and an understanding of Jordanian culture. I know I will be back one day to continue learning and exploring such a wonderful country. I'm so thankful and highly recommend this program. (Excursion to UAE is quite fun as well).

Although my program was cut early, I would not have changed one thing about my semester in Jordan. Primarily, our staff was absolutely incredible, supportive, and super fun. Our classes were challenging but extremely interesting and I was able to speak Arabic with natives. The country itself has the kindest, most hospitable people I have ever met. And the food? I did not have one bad meal while abroad. Amman is such a fun and historic city that I absolutely fell in love with. I met so many locals that I have come to call best friends and truly formed a second home in Jordan that I hope to return to in the future. I truly had no complaints throughout my time abroad and even though we weren't able to make it to Petra or Aqaba, I had an amazing time during the time that I was there.

SIT Malaysia and China was an experience in watching how eastern principles develop a western, global economy. The development of my understanding of Islamic finance in a country that is paving the road for its use in the mainstream economy while still taking steps to integrate itself with regional economies was perhaps one of the most challenging yet engaging parts of my time on the program. The incorporation of China’s One Belt, One Road development strategy into the pedagogy of economic diplomacy and shifting trade networks made the program responsive to both Malaysia’s important role and that of the other nations within ASEAN. As an Economics major at a liberal arts school, the interdisciplinary approach to this Economics-forward coursework was so engaging.

Beyond the classroom, the abroad experience was amazing. Though the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the excursion to China from happening, we were able to plan different excursions to replace the lost experience, mostly at the insistence of the program director who was deeply committed to ensuring we had the experience we signed up for. On our visit to Penang, it became clear that our director was connected to many people in the country that could speak with us and expand our course offerings outside of the classroom; she was also never afraid to ask anyone we requested to join us.

The student support was great during the program and a lot of that was due in part to the swift actions taken when we would indicate any issue, regardless of severity. Perhaps the most fulfilling part of the program was the host family assignment which was delayed by a week so that our program staff could understand us a bit better then place us with the family that fit best. This worked perfectly because I loved my host family and am still in contact with them today.

There were eight students in my cohort including myself. It felt like the perfect size where we were able to know everyone around us without feeling like we were stuck. Living in Kuala Lumpur and attending classes at University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) assisted in making sure that we did not feel stuck; only 30 minutes away by train from the city center, there were always opportunities for us to break off and explore on our own or with friends we made at our university. The UKM Global office assigned each of us a “student buddy” that could assist us with language but also with getting acquainted with the campus; this was an invaluable asset upon our arrival and many of them we each still call friends.

Overall, the theme of the program and its staff was that it was not unlike them to go above and beyond for us. Even as we were required to return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were kept in concern with daily messages and frequent video chats to help us complete our coursework.