SIT Study Abroad Reviews

Perhaps the most intense part of the program is the Spanish. While it is intense and demanding, the coordinators do an excellent job of slowly integrating you into the language and culture. They are always readily available for whatever information or doubts you may have. Ana Laura, the head administrator, is an attentive and dedicated administrator. She is extremely sweet and has high expectations of the students.

My experience abroad gave a view into a different style of living as my host mom lives a minimalist, no-waste lifestyle. I also got to attend a lot of deeply stimulating conferences and talks that gave me a lot of academic contacts and information.

The educational experience with SIT is so special and unique! I loved learning through experiences and field work. The last month is set apart for internships or independent research projects. I loved stepping outside my normal learning setting (a university) and taking more responsibility for what I was learning and how my Spanish was progressing. My host family was also so precious and a perfect fit! Valparaíso is also so special, living next to the ocean was amazing! If you are Christian, there are lots of great options for churches and Christian community- check out Union Church in Viña Del Mar if you choose this program!

SIT Valparaiso is a great program for those who wish to emerge themselves in learning Spanish and value independence. The first month of the program involved many hours of class time that provide a good foundation of the history of Chile that also combined field trips that were very educational. The excursions of this program are a huge highlight as they expose you to the diversity of lives in Chile, as well as the different geography and climate. The final part of the program, which is either an internship or independent study, is a great way to apply the skills learned in the program and the month SIT gives you is plenty of time to complete the assignment without stress.

What I loved about this program is the extensive traveling and unique experiences that this program provides. We travelled all over Panama and even some of Costa Rica, seeing and doing just about everything you could imagine: hiking, swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, sight seeing, and of course, learning. This program takes you beyond the traditional classroom setting and teaches you way more than coursework. It got me out of my comfort zone in the best way and taught me the importance of living in the moment.

This was everything I could have hoped for and more in a study abroad experience. I was nervous about leaving everything behind and coming to Panama, but it turned out to be the absolute best decision of my life. The program staff were extremely laid back and allowed us to have an authentic, incredible experience. Every day we did something incredible, exciting, and new that left me wiser than I was before leaving the US. I have a greater confidence in myself and have made forever friendships. I cannot recommend this program enough.

I came in fairly ignorant of Tibetan culture and history and left with not only a greater understanding of that, but also with friendships that I hope will last long after the 4 months of the program. This was the best decision I made in college. It is impossible to know what my experience would have been like in other programs, but in speaking to friends who went elsewhere I can say that the experience I had in Nepal was unique. It was challenging and the greatest learning experience of my life.

This was an incredible semester experience that allowed me to pursue my academic interests (biology/environmental science/animal behavior), improve my Spanish skills, learn a lot about a new culture, experience places and things I would never have been able to as a tourist, and make some life-long friends. The excursions included so much more than I imagined and I really enjoyed the hands-on learning approach. The program staff was fantastic and really prioritized our understanding. All of the students in the program were extremely passionate people who took the experience seriously and worked hard.

This study abroad provided valuable learning in the field, as well as experience in research and academic writing. The adventurous excursions to observe plants, animals, adaptations and symbiotic relationships, environmental impact and conservation efforts, field research methods, and much much more resulted in a rewarding and "once in a lifetime" experience, while being interspersed with regular class time and assignments to improve scientific writing, spanish language skills, and general ecological knowledge. This mix made for a semester full of flexibility, rigor, fun, and lots of new things. The homestay provided additional experience with the culture and the language. All together, this program created a study abroad that will benefit students well beyond the end of the semester. I thoroughly enjoyed my SIT Ecuador: comparative ecology and conservation semester and will never forget the lasting friendships and connections that were formed during the semester.

SIT Tunisia/Italy was extremely rewarding. I studied abroad from August-December 2019. Though I am not the biggest fan of all of SIT's policies and structures, this specific program was immensely gratifying. The professors are all brilliant and the homestay experiences were amazing for every member of our program. There were 12 of us from all over the country/world and at a wide variety of American colleges. Our three weeks in Sicily to study migration were an absolute highlight. But our time in Tunisia was irreplaceable -- especially if you are interested in politics, democracy, Arabic/French, and the Middle East/North Africa. The program allows for time in the desert of Tunisia and provides a perfect amount of independent time and growth. Especially rewarding for lovers of language!

I really enjoyed my study abroad experience! The academic coursework was interesting but not stressful, so students were able to take a lot of time to explore the local culture and travel. My favorite part of the program was the 2-week excursion in Greece, during which students were able to interact with Greeks, explore the country and culture in detail, and otherwise have fun! Overall, would highly recommend this program for students who are looking to explore Switzerland, learn more about sustainability in finance, and take a break from coursework in the United States.