Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Studying Abroad in Iceland is a Once in a Lifetime Opportunity! Past Review

By (University of Oregon) - abroad from 08/17/2019 to 11/26/2019 with

SIT Study Abroad: Iceland - Climate Change and the Arctic

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned that I am much more independent and capable of traveling on my own than I anticipated. I believe that this experience was 100% worthwhile and feel like I learned a lot about myself and my true interests.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I appreciated the easy-going nature of the courses, as well as the combination of in-class and hands-on experiences provided.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had no idea what housing would be like prior to the program, so be aware that most of the housing throughout the program are in hostels or apartment-style rooms. However, sharing rooms was never a problem and SIT goes out of their way to find the nicest places they can.

* Food:

We were given a stipend to use for food, making it easy to choose what kind of food you wanted to eat and whether you wanted to cook for yourself or go out to eat.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

I felt very safe throughout the program and was never concerned about my safety or anyone elses. This is one of the safest countries I have been to, so this is one of the biggest positives about this program location.

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

Yes, I am very interested in climate change, so it was cool to be able to focus on this one issue the whole time. I appreciated the relaxed nature of the program and the amount of free time we had to explore the surrounding landscapes.

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? I never spent any of my own personal money, because I was able to use the stipend from the program for food and transportation.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? I would suggest making your own food most of the time and planning out how much money you want to allot towards groceries per week.

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? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? N/A
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? I would suggest using a language teaching app that quizzes you and sounds out the words, as Icelandic can be a very difficult language to learn.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
  • 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • location
  • people
  • program focus
* What could be improved?
  • communication
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I would not have been stressed out about some of the program specifics, because everything is very well-thought-out and planned for us.

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.