Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

All I could have asked for and more! Past Review

By (Anthropology., Trinity University) - abroad from 02/25/2014 to 06/09/2014 with

SIT Study Abroad: Chile - Public Health, Traditional Medicine, and Community Empowerment

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned independence, confidence, the importance of making mistakes, open-mindedness.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes were definitely much easier than classes at Trinity, but I felt like I grew more as a person the entire experience rather than academically.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program was well-designed overall, but there were definitely some inconsistencies and miscommunications between the academic director and the students.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was one of the best parts of my experience.

* Food:

The food was also one of the best parts of my experience.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Living with a host family and making some Chilean friends made me feel somewhat integrated, but I was always with other students from the US in my classes, which was a small downside.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I personally never had any health problems so I can't comment.

* Safety:

Relative to other countries in Latin America, I would say that Chile is pretty safe. However, pick-pocketing and robbery do happen frequently. Several girls in my program were robbed throughout the four month program. Do not carry expensive items with you, (credit cards, iphones, lots of cash) because as a person from the United States you will always stand out and be a target for robbery.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Living in Arica, Chile is much cheaper than the U.S. I spent most of my money on food/entertainment/travel. In this program you live with a host family, so most expenses are included in the initial program fees.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $50 at most
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Go out with the amount of cash you want to spend - don't take credit cards.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Upper division Spanish
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Make friends with local people - not just students from the U.S.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Small city
  • Integrated Learning
  • Traveling
* What could be improved?
  • Cultural Integration
  • Language use
  • Program direction
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Attention from Chileans toward people from the U.S. was pretty intense

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.