Program Reviews

I always knew I wanted to study abroad in a Latin American country, but I was a little nervous to commit. I'm so happy I did! This was one of the best experiences of my life, and I wouldn't change a thing! We lived with a host family, went to classes together as a group of 12, had semi-private Spanish classes, and traveled every few weeks to a different part of Bolivia. I got to see major cities such as La Paz, Santa Cruz, Sucre, Potosi, and Cochabamba as well as an eco-conscious town called Samaipata and pueblos in Lake Titicaca and the Amazon region. Practice your Spanish ahead of time, but don't get super worked up about it. You will improve immensely by living with a host family and having conversational Spanish classes. There is a lot of readings to do and some papers, but the topics are highly relevant. If you have time in the summer, reading ahead of time is extremely valuable!

This is the perfect program for you if you like to travel, have new experiences, and make close friends! You get to constantly see new places around the country with a group of like-minded individuals. This is the recipe for great conversations and great memories. We stayed with five homestays that shared the culture of Panama with us and in hostels where we got to bond as a group. Not only do you learn about all types of ecosystems with hands on experience, you learn about yourself and skills for the future. The end of the program entails a research project where you can choose any location and topic. This may seem daunting at first, but it was one of the most rewarding parts of the program. Overall, I got to travel with an amazing group of students and create memories that I will carry with me forever.

We had 3 different home stays throughout the program -- one in the north in Putre, one in the south near Temuco, and our "home base" in Valparaíso or Viña del Mar. This is where my Spanish improved the most, without question. The program does a really great job of matching students with families and, if the family doesn't work for you for whatever reason, the program staff is good about moving you to another family. In my experiences, the families were really wonderful and invested in our wellbeing.

The travel that we did with the program was one of my favorite aspects. The 1-month independent research project was also a highlight for me. You're given the opportunity to elect a theme and are permitted to travel anywhere in the country to conduct that project.

This program is an incredible opportunity for personal and academic growth. I learned so much about the Argentine healthcare system and improved my Spanish 10 fold. I loved that the classes had guest lecturers on their specialty topic because we were able to learn from the top professionals in that area. My favorite aspect academically was the ability to conduct my own research project in another province. I learned so much from this experience. Personally, I made incredible friends who I know I will be friends with for the rest of my life. I also loved exploring the city; I come from a small suburb and was really pushed outside of my comfort zone in a new large city which was great. I also loved my host mom and had an incredible experience living in her home. I would highly recommend this program if you are looking to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and really learn about healthcare in Argentina!

The Arts and Social Change program in Prague is a unique opportunity for students to witness first hand how impactful art is for a culture’s politics, history, and community. Rather than learning about Czech culture from afar, students will become a part of it by participating in different aspects of the arts and living in the community. Because of this learning style, years later I still maintain friendships with my fellow students and feel deep gratitude and connection to Prague and the Czech Republic.

The SIT Czech Arts and Social Change Program truly stands out from every other study abroad program I had considered. The small cohort, supportive program staff, and local professors make the academic courses rigorous and culturally enriching. Each course offered an opportunity for both classroom and experiential learning, taking theory out of the classroom and putting it into practice. There is an immense amount of creative support in the students individual interests.

The SIT Prague Program really encouraged me to ask questions. As a college student, I felt independent and open to everything. However the program pushed me out of my comfort zone. I realized that college is still quite a controlled environment, and that I shouldn’t be afraid to question everything.

My fellow students were amazing, and I still keep in touch with nearly everyone! My host family was also the best I could ask for. I still keep in touch with them as well.

If you want a rigorous academic program, with local professors, amazing regional excursions, opportunities to pursue individual interests, and never feeling like an American tourist, this program is for you. I could not recommend it more highly.

I absolutely loved this program and wouldn't change my experience for the world. I learned so much about Durban, South Africa, Zulu culture, Apartheid history, race, class, education, etc. I thought the homestay experience was one of the absolute best parts of the program and I still keep in touch with the families I lived with. The program is definitely difficult, but so profound and worth any hardships you may encounter. You will be uncomfortable, embarrassed, lost, and unsure, but it wouldn't be an authentic experience without times of feeling that way. This program will support you and the staff were some of the best people I've ever met. I enjoyed this program so, so much and it has changed the way I view the world and has inspired me to seek international experience post-grad.

After spending almost 4 months in India with SIT, I can't imagine doing my study abroad experience anywhere else. If you have an interest in public health, this is the program for you. The homestay experience was amazing and I felt like a big brother to my host-brothers and host-sister. Also, having home cooked Indian food every day is hard to complain about. I loved learning Hindi and feeling like I was a part of the culture, even if it was only for a few months. The SIT staff treats you like family and you won't want to let go when you hug them goodbye at the end of the trip. Lastly, having the experience of completing an independent study project was a crucial aspect of my trip and really helped to put all of our lessons into perspective. This program helps you succeed in every aspect of the trip, such as helping you transition, being a shoulder to lean on when you need it, or giving you suggestions on where to travel on a weekend or after the program. If you want to step outside of your comfort zone and establish yourself in a crazy, stimulating and colorful environment and culture, this is the program for you!

I did the SIT IHP Cities in the 21st Century program this spring of 2018, and it was the best decision I could take for myself. My track went to Ahmedabad (India), Sao Paulo (Brazil) and Cape Town (South Africa). I had wanted to go to India and Brazil for a long time and getting the chance to visit through the program was amazing because I got to engage critically with the cities we stayed in and got to know it beyond its tourism(which can often be superficial and harmful). The wonderful country teams that hosted us were open and insightful about the way their cities functioned, the problems they faced, and all the forms of resistance they held. We learned about the cities from so many different angles and teachers - visiting professors, working professionals, activists, community organizers, etc. I also loved the homestay component of the program because the families made us feel welcome and showed us the city in their own eyes. The group of students I became a class of were another big part of the experience since we spent 4 months together! We actively built community throughout the program and got to know each other quite well. The 4 months were obviously not without difficulty of adjusting to new places, dealing with different personalities, balancing the school work with exploring the cities, etc but it was overall enriching and positive. I recommend to anyone who loves to experience new things and is open to it. And of course, people who love urban studies! (ps. I am not an urban studies person, I study history, and I still loved it)

This program exposed me to humanitarian aid and global health and what people can do to get involved. The different briefings at different organizations exposed me to an array of different career options. Morocco was also a very special experience. There was much more cultural interaction and exposure in Morocco. The academics in this program is not rigorous which I recommend taking advantage of by traveling. Explore the surrounding countries and explore Switzerland (use the Swiss Pass! You can even go to parts of France and Italy with it). Not the right program if you really want to improve French. The right program if you want to learn more about global health.