Program Reviews

I absolutely loved the SIT Ecuador program and it was a great fit for me, someone who wantes a field-based program woth a combination of science and Spanish. The strength of this program was its small class size (18 students in my program!) and unique, field-based format. All the students are from the US and our professors (and of course host families) are Ecuadorian. It’s structured such that we live and go to school in Quito and then every other week or so, we are off on week long excursions to different ecosystems all over the country. The last month is dedicated to conducting our independent research projects, where each student does their own research in a field station of their choice. As you can imagine, this allowed us to spend TONS of time outside in the field getting our hands dirty. If hands-on experiential learning (at any given time of the day and night) is your jam, then you’ll love it. The time we spent learning in the field was incredibly formative for me as a budding scientist.

In terms of scientific background, the vast majority of students were Biology or Environmental Science majors with a couple Geology folks. Prior knowledge in earth science isn’t necessary, but I would definitely recommend intro bio and ecology classes, perhaps a botany class if you have the option at your university. However, one of my close friends on the program was an art major and had only taken one science class before. So it is doable, but that's not the norm.

A key point to emphasize is that every facet of this program is structured, so it's hard to find free time for social and extra-curricular opportunities. Within the realm of abroad programs, this one is quite academically rigorous (which I feel is not stressed enough) and because of that, you will have little free time. You have to be willing to put in the work and live outside your comfort zone for a whole semester. But if you embrace it, you'll have a blast and will learn and grow so much.

SIT Panama was exactly what I was looking for in a study abroad program. I wanted a program that really immersed me in environmental/biological field work and Central American culture. Being able to get hands-on experience working in all kinds of ecosystems like mangroves, coral reefs, and tropical forests was something that I really could not have done anywhere else. One of the best parts of SIT Panama is the 7 weeks of travel to various parts of Panama and Costa Rica, which exposed us as students to all these different ecosystems. It was an awesome way to figure out what kind of work and research I liked doing. My Spanish also improved IMMENSELY thanks to homestays and interacting with local people. I always felt safe during my time in Panama, and the staff on this trip are incredible. Aly, the academic director, is AMAZING and she is so invested in the success and well-being of her students. If you are looking for a study abroad experience to get valuable hands-on research and field work experience, truly get to know a country intimately, learn about sustainability, and improve your Spanish, this is the program for you.

I believe that this program is the best for someone who would like to improve their Spanish, is interested in social change, and wants to explore a beautiful country! The program is split into two parts, one when you are in classes and lectures and two when you are doing either your research project or internship. While classes are extremely long (9am-5pm) and difficult for those like myself who did not have a good grasp of the language, you learn a lot about the social climate in Chile. On the bright side, you do get an excursion to the north and south during the classes part of the program, which is a nice break from the instant coffee and lecturers.
For the last month I chose to do an ISP over an internship, which I highly recommend if you have good time management and if you would like to take that time to travel within the country. 25 pages in Spanish seems scary, but you have a large network of support and if it is on a subject you are passionate about the page count doesn't matter, trust me!
For me, I thought the homestay element was the best feature of the program. I saw that my Spanish improved exponentially by just listening and talking with my host mom and my host sister, who I am still in contact with to this day. I recommend that you try and spend as much time as possible with your family because they will teach you the most about Chilean culture. Homestay was probably the thing that I was most terrified for, but ended up being my favorite part of the program.
Also worth noting, I am a vegetarian that leans towards being dairy free. If you are a vegetarian as well, do not worry about eating. I found no problem with finding the food that I needed, my host mom even tried out veggie burgers for me! I ate a ton of salads, eggs, and lentils, which is what I usually eat anyways. I do think that if you are gluten free or vegan it will be a bit difficult for you because Chileans do eat a lot of bread and cheese. It definitely will not be impossible for you to eat, just a little challenging.
My biggest recommendation to students entering this program is to practice your Spanish everyday (podcasts, Duolingo, telenovelas, etc), pack JACKETS (I was very cold the first month I was in Chile), and be open to the culture. Culture shock is real, but if you are expecting it, it will be okay. I also recommend taking every opportunity you can to explore Chile, this skinny country is full of different places and things to do!

This study abroad program far exceeded anything that I hoped it would be. It had adventure (trekking through the Amazon, snorkeling in the Galapagos, and living in rural home stays, etc.), cultural immersion, language practice, rigorous academics, and independent research. There are times when I was certainly in uncomfortable situations but all of them were important parts of the program and helped make it what it was. The directors and administration are great to work with and you end up feeling like a family, both with them and the other students on the program. The research at the end is a great time for developing your own project, putting it into place, and writing it up into a full scientific paper. Really can't recommend it enough.

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.