Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Glad I went through it; most certainly not a "vacation" Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/28/2017 to 12/09/2017 with

SIT Study Abroad: IHP Food Systems - Agriculture, Sustainability, and Justice

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about myself and about the way that people interact in difficult situations.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? It depended a lot on where we were in the world -- expenses were much higher in Italy than in Malawi and India. Either way, we were usually given stipends for meals that we did not have with the whole group.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Just keep in mind the money that you will likely spend in the future! For example, if there is a break, keep in mind that you will likely spend a lot more money then compared to every day.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Host Family
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The locations
  • The other students
* What could be improved?
  • Support from the staff
  • Organization of activites
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The course content is not very rigorous and it is mostly social justice based. I thought it was going to be more environmental science based and it was not at all.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'