Program Reviews

This program was everything I hoped for and more. I got to live with host family, learn and live in the language and really immerse myself in the culture. While this program was extremely challenging in terms of adapting to new environments and learning a new language, it was the most rewarding experience of my life. The program directors are also work extremely hard to make sure you have a support system with them and within the group. Every measure is taken to insure students are learning and living in a health, safe, and comfortable environment while still being pushed and growing. The untraditional academic programing also opens doors to conversation and connection with community members you otherwise would not meet enrolled directly with an Argentine university. I left this program feeling inspired and wanted to go back to Buenos Aires as soon as posible!

This program had everything I was looking for: language immersion, rigorous academics, supportive local staff, homestay experience, time in the city, excursions, and a social justice focus. Beyond that, I was so lucky to have a great group of fellow students and an amazing homestay family, which really made the experience what it was for me.

This program is academically rigorous, as advertised, but also offers so much support for students. Experiential learning was heavily emphasized, and organizational visits, historical tours, and museum visits were an important part of our learning. Otherwise, we had lectures from experts in their fields give classes on specific topics rather than having one stable professor. As part of the program, I also did an Independent Study Project, which was the biggest research project I had ever undertaken. But with the support of my excellent Research Methods and Ethics professor, academic director Ana Laura, and my personal thematic advisor and Spanish tutor, the project was a success and I learned so much in the process.

I also had an incredible homestay experience. I got matched with a young queer couple whose interests aligned closely with mine. As a queer and nonbinary person, I felt so comfortable and safe in their home, and we had a lot of fun together. Being close to my host moms helped a lot with cultural integration, because I got to meet their friends and family and do local activities with them.

The staff are also what make this program so great. The coordinators Ana Laura Lobo, Griselda Vallejo, Eliana Ferradás, and Catalina Correa are some of the kindest, most patient, and understanding people I've ever met. I cannot imagine this program without all of the hours of care and love they put into it. Any student would be lucky to have them as program administrators. I certainly was! My advice would be to really take advantage of the staff and your advisors as resources and ask for what you need! Also remember that you'll only get out as much as you put into the experience.

From discussing the fire regimes of Eucalyptus trees on hikes through the rainforest, to listening to Uncle Rus' stories about Aboriginal tradition around the campfire, to conducting fish behavior surveys on the great barrier reef, this program takes you beyond the classroom to learn in the environment. This program is perfect for students who want to experience more than just city life (although there's some of that too) and explore ecology with their own eyes. A typical class might include a bus ride where you use those 'car window ecology goggles' to observe how the landscape changes, then stretch your legs with a proforma to classify the rainforest type before lunch. After a group picnic, you might swim in the nearby waterfall or switch locations to explore a different ecosystem. While in the marine unit, you might have a lecture after breakfast, then put that new knowledge into practice by snorkeling the nearby reefs. The program ends with the opportunity to join a research project or possibly design your own which is a great way to apply everything you've learned, explore an interest, and potential find a future career.

This program can be very challenging, as it moves quickly, exposes you to various different environments, etc, but the amount of learning (both personally and academically) that can be gained makes it well worth it. Personally, I found the ISP (independent study project) especially challenging, but I learned more than I could have possibly imagined about the topic of my research, the process of doing research, and my own personal interests and boundaries. Also, the SIT community in-country (the director, coordinator, and my classmates) formed a really incredible community that was an important support system and also a highlight of the semester.

I had am amazing time with SIT this past semester. I absolutely loved the other students in the program and made some close friends. The directors of the program were always supportive and I felt comfortable with them. And they made everything fun! Classes were not terribly hard academically as long as you stayed on top of your work. I got to know my host mom very well and shared dinners with her every night, talking about lots of stuff together. I felt like I had an insider look into Argentina culture and made friends with some argentinians my age. I loved my time here, even the hard parts, and would recommend it to anyone.

This was an amazing experience! I had such a fantastic time in Argentina and I learned so much not only about human rights and social movements but also about myself. I was able to make such incredible friendships as well. I couldn’t be more thankful. I highly recommend this program. The staff and advisors were incredibly supportive, kind hearted, and truly desire to make your experience as wonderful as possible. For anyone considering going abroad, Argentina is the place to go. Buenos Aires is such a beautiful city with such wonderful people.

This was such an amazing experience. If you are interested in human rights, grassroots social movements, and Spanish language immersion, this is the program for you. I cannot emphasize enough how safe and secure I felt throughout my experience with SIT. I needed to be babied a bit throughout the beginning of the program, and SIT walked us through everything we needed to know and more. My host family was absolutely amazing and I will miss them so so much. Please take the time to learn about the program before deciding on it because it's not for everyone. My heart hurts to leave this amazing country, but I know I'll be back.

My experience abroad with SIT exceeded all my expectations. Initially, this program stuck out to me as a hands-on learner and someone who loves to travel. In reality, it was all that and more. This program is a nice balance of academics, hands-on activities, and cultural immersion. Over the course of the trip, we traveled all over the country to dozens of locations I had never even heard of before, and I was thrilled by their natural beauty and rich culture. I was also able to greatly improve my Spanish while in Panama and loved the opportunity of living with several Panamanian families. It offered a truly unique perspective into Panamanian culture that was truly amazing. Overall, I strongly recommend this program.

I 100% recommend SIT: India. Although going abroad to a less conventional country may seem daunting at first, the people you meet, the experiences you have, and the places you go will make every penny worth it. I wasn't sure what to expect out of this program, but every moment exceeded my expectations -- the academics were rigorous and interesting enough that I felt satisfied in that regard, and the program staff were both welcoming and flexible (and incredibly in tune to how to tap American students into Indian cultures). I can say with absolute certainty that I had zero regrets -- I would do this program over and over again if I could! Much of the credit goes to the people who ran the program, and the other students who chose to take the leap of faith like I did in coming here <3. While my time in India has ended for now, the bonds I formed with staff and students will last forever :) GO ON THIS PROGRAM!!!

This program was more than I ever could have asked for! From my first moments in India, the program staff went miles to take care of me and curate a meaningful and rewarding experience. They were so welcoming and helped me integrate seamlessly into the community. The classes include a variety of lectures from local professionals, and there's something new every day! We traveled frequently on excursions to other areas of India, so I was able to learn from and explore a variety of different communities. For the last month, I participated in an independent study project. While the independence was daunting at first, it was not as hard as I anticipated to interview people and produce the final paper!
SIT really took care of all of the details and supported me throughout it all!