SIT Study Abroad: Panama: Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation

During my study abroad, I leaned into the present moment and was able to gain new experiences and have wild adventures every day. This program was great for practicing and improving my Spanish skills. I loved having research-based classes, and my independent research project was the highlight of my semester. The last month is completely self-designed, and gives each student the freedom to focus on what they are really passionate about. It may feel overwhelming at times, but is truly worth it and was the most valuable learning I did.

Panama was a truly incredible place, rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. If I could do this program again, I would absolutely do it in a heartbeat. The friends I made, the wonderful host families I stayed with, and the SIT staff truly made this experience what it was.

My Spanish improved significantly, especially since many of the places we traveled to were far from major cities, which encouraged constant immersion. I also have a severe dairy allergy, and I had no trouble communicating this with the SIT staff coordinator or with any of the host families I stayed with, which made me feel very supported and safe throughout the program.

During the program, we traveled all over Panama and experienced an incredible amount of the country’s diversity, all while balancing coursework and even having time for some independent travel. The professors were all incredibly kind and passionate about their work, which made learning both engaging and inspiring.

Overall, this program exceeded my expectations and was an experience I will always be grateful for.

This program was an amazing experience and I'm so grateful and glad I was able to be a part of it. The academics of the program are rigorous, but I learned so much and gained a mass of new skill sets. The setup of the program is a mix of lectures and fieldwork. The professors of each module are passionate about what they do and it is clearly reflected in the way they teach the materials. It's hard to say which module was my favorite, all were so unique and I learned so much. My biggest takeaway from the modules was to not procrastinate the assignments, and try to get them done in a timely manner as you move around a lot. Aly, Yari, and Yuri are amazing! It's definitely nerve-wracking going to a new country with people you've never met before, but everyone is in the same position and you get close to one another quickly. A recommendation, based on my group's general experience, is to bring a hefty amount of over-the-counter medicine, especially for stomach-related issues, and Tylenol instead of Advil! As for the homestays within the program, that was my favorite part of the program! They helped my Spanish speaking skills so much and it was so special to be apart of different families homes. All my host families were so sweet and all had pets, which helped immensely whenever I got homesick. Regarding dietary restrictions, I am lactose and gluten intolerant, and for the most part, the homestays were very accommodating, but you do have to advocate for yourself and let your host parents know your dietary restrictions. Overall, this program is amazing. It definitely can be draining at times, as you move around a lot and almost always have homework, but it is so worth it in every way and I hope to go back to Panama one day!

I found SIT Panama to be exactly what I was looking for in a study abroad program. The excursions let us see a wide array of biomes across the country and introduced us to tons of wonderful people. SIT Panama is heavily experience-based in the teaching style, which worked great for me, and I'll never forget my time wading through streams looking for frogs at night or spending days snorkeling in the reefs of Guna Yala. The student culture in my cohort was always quite positive which made for a great community. Even as an introvert I felt that I was able to connect with my fellow students, host families, and other local Panamanians. The ISP (independent study project) at the end of the program is pretty intense but I found it to be some of the happiest weeks of my life. I loved getting to spend hours on end snorkeling, learning to ID marine invertebrates (the focus of my specific project), and completing my write-up while staying with a bunch of my SIT friends. Overall this program was excellent and if I could go back in time I would definitely choose to do it again.

I studied abroad in Panama enduring a hands-on experience in environmental science through extensive field work in varying tropical environments, focusing on marine ecology and blue carbon conservation in both the Caribbean and Pacific oceans. We performed field work in coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass, the open ocean and intertidal zones. We engaged in classes, presentations, assessments and an independent research project. We partook in adventurous excursions to islands, cities and national parks. I was able to establish new personal and professional connections with peers and educators in the environmental science field. The friends I made along the way are unforgettable! The professors and advisors were extremely positive, encouraging and intelligent. This was a jam-packed intense travel, I miss the chaos every day! This experience was very special!

This program was one of the most incredible experiences of my entire life. I learned so much, got to visit so many beautiful and unique places, and made lifelong friends! I think what sets this program apart is the incredible opportunities for field research, like studying amphibians in the tropical cloud forests of El Valle, as well as the cultural immersion opportunities, like spending a night in the Naso Comarca. You will get to visit some of the most beautiful habitats in the world and learn from instructors who are experts in their respective fields. Outside of the classroom, this program made me much more confident in social situations and taught me to go with the flow and take in each experience. You will undoubtedly emerge from this program a more well-rounded person and take the lessons you learned in Panama with you for the rest of your life! Don't miss out, seize the opportunity to visit this beautiful country and experience its many amazing cultures!

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.

This program offers an absurd amount of opportunity to learn about so many new things in vastly different ecosystems with a challenging structure and expectations that pushed me to a new standard of academics that I hadn't expected. The people in charge of the program are fantastic, and incredibly helpful, and it was rare to meet an unhelpful Panamanian. The Independent Study portion is unmatched in allowing and forcing you to grow beyond your bounds. Without this experience, I think my education would have been gravely incomplete.