SIT Study Abroad: India: Public Health

I understand that studying abroad in India is unconventional, that it doesn't strike Westerners as appealing as France or England. However, it is India that will teach you more about your knowledge, yourself, and your realities. It will test you, but it is a life-changing experience. Through my experience with SIT, I was thoroughly supported, cared about, and loved by all faculty. I was stimulated academically, linguistically, and culturally.

The most incredible learning outcome from this experience was ISP period, doing research and field work was invaluable and is another building block for my career in public health.

I had an incredible experience studying abroad in India through this program. I felt supported from the very start when program staff picked us up from the airport and took us to our hotel. The professors are more like family, and they will help you with everything (money exchange, transportation, trip planning, etc.)! The classes were specialized and engaging with lots of visits to organizations, hospitals, and monuments. For the final project or internship, the staff will help you go to almost anywhere in India and connect you with an organization. This is a great program for pre-med and gender studies students!

Thank you, SIT India, for helping me learn and grow during my semester abroad! From the moment I arrived in Delhi, I felt supported and loved by the entire staff. They helped us navigate this new country seamlessly and introduced us to all of India's wonders. I enjoyed shopping for new kurtas and jewelry, learning Hindi, trekking in the Himalayas, tasting delicious meals, living with a wonderful host family, strolling on the beaches in Goa, visiting the Taj Mahal, volunteering at a rural health organization in Maharashtra, exploring Ellora Caves, and conducting independent research on a topic I’m passionate about. I will never forget my experience in India or the beautiful people I met and the amazing places I was fortunate enough to see.

I'm grateful to my professors for supporting my academic journey by providing excellent, constructive feedback at every step. I came to this program as a passionate gender studies and pre-nursing student, and I left even more excited than I was before! I loved all of our health center visits, as well as the unique shadowing and volunteering opportunities I had at an organization in rural Maharashtra during the final month of the program. This program is a great way to explore the field of healthcare and learn more about yourself.

This program was absolutely incredible! While studying in India is less common and there are many prejudices against the country, I’ve found it to be the most welcoming, safe, and impactful place that I’ve visited. The classes are engaging and are integrated into day- and week-long field excursions across India. The opportunity to live with a host family is a rare chance to truly experience the culture outside of the classroom setting. While the experience was daunting at first, I found myself becoming a part of their family and community. The Independent Study Project, which I completed at the end of the semester, was a great way to get hands-on experience with research and working in a clinical setting (as I partnered with a healthcare organization). This program challenges you in all the right ways, pushing you to learn about yourself, step outside your comfort zone, and truly become immersed in the Indian culture. You should absolutely apply!

I truly evolved and grew as a person during this semester abroad. The program staff were my favorite part of the program. I would do it 1000 times again. Don’t let anyone stop you from traveling the world! India is so diverse, expansive, and I truly felt so safe during my program year. You are well equipped, prepared and even have the opportunity to travel around India during your time there! On top of that, you get to delve into a research topic of your choice that you’re passionate about for the last month of the program. I made so many connections and friendships that I will cherish with all my heart. It was academically thought-provoking and I look at the world with bigger heart and more curious mind. Don’t second guess it, apply to this program with SIT in India!!! I will forever be jealous of anyone who gets to experience this program and the love of the program staff here!

I was originally so nervous to take on this experience. It was my first time living abroad and even my first time living in a city, since I come from rural Ohio. I wanted to join this program because the academic topics matched my interests perfectly. When I got here, I was scared as anything, but the SIT staff and faculty became the best support system I could ask for. They knew exactly what we might be feeling, and quickly became my second family. The academics are rigorous, but they don’t take up all of your time. Much of the coursework builds on itself, and it will prepare you so well for your ISP. In Delhi, you’ll spend most evenings with your homestay families, but during excursions you’ll have plenty of time to explore, hang out, and grow close with your fellow students. Most of my time was spent with the other students, since opportunities to make friends with locals were limited. This is an incredible program, but it’s also what you make of it, you’ll have to push your boundaries and step out of your comfort zone, but that when I learned the most about myself. This experience will stick with me for the rest of my life, and I honestly wish I could do it again. The program gives you the perfect balance of independence while still being a safety net whenever you need it. Also, you will never go hungry here. If I could give one last piece of convincing evidence to join this program, let the food be it!

Transformative experience! I learned so much about what people are capable of: potential, resilience, and creativity. I saw so much, travelled so much and suddenly writing my college essays just came so easily because we were living all of those experiences. We had excursions every other week and really got to see a lot. The ISP (Independent Study Project) was truly amazing as well: having the opportunity to conduct research on my own and to solo travel in Udaipur at my own pace and discover what I enjoy doing. And then everything's really cheap... Ended up bringing a whole extra suitcase back home.

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!!!