The best, most beautiful experience that will surprise you every single day July 09, 2026
By Danica G (Zoology, Animal Biology, University of Vermont) - abroad from 02/01/2026 to 05/16/2026 with
SIT Study Abroad: Ecuador - Comparative Ecology and Conservation
Not only did I learn during classes and on excursions, but I learned so many life lessons and new perspectives from my families in Quito and the Amazon. I also got to go to some of the most incredible places on earth with my closest friends and learn from many experts in a field I am just starting out in.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The academic directors in this program are the most supportive and intelligent people I have ever met. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The host-family placements are very intentional to fit students' needs. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The intense learning aspect mixed with the most incredible excursions and the best, most passionate group of people I have ever met made for an experience of a lifetime. I cannot imagine having learned so much anywhere else in the world with anyone else. |
Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $20 total for ubers each week (program provided funds for this) and all meals were at home, so minimal spending on food was for snacks for excursions |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Host families only speak spanish with students and same with tour guides! |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| 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? | Elementary level spanish course for one semester |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I had looked into the Independent Study Project a bit more before jumping in. |
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 BlazerCraving 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.' |
