Life-changing experience in India December 06, 2025

By Sofia G (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/26/2025 to 12/06/2025 with

SIT Study Abroad: India - Public Health, Gender, & Sexuality

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

The ISP (Independent Study Project) was truly amazing as well: having the opportunity to conduct research on my own and to solo travel in Udaipur at my own pace, and discover what I enjoy doing.

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?	Yes Transformative experience! I learned so much about what people are capable of: potential, resilience, and creativity. I saw so much, travelled so much and suddenly writing my college essays just came so easily because we were living all of those experiences.

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)	Everything is a lot cheaper in India than in America, although I did end up buying a lot of things.

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	Even though my host family spoke English, I used some of my Hindi with them. It was also super useful in the Independent Study Project (ISP).
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
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?	Being intentional about it with your host family and not afraid to just say anything is really helpful.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Host Family
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Americans International Students
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?	Having the freedom to explore
* What could be improved?	Getting more immersed with the locals
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	That it was going to be actually cold at the end of the year.

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.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Hindi
Course Department:	Language
Instructor:	Goutam Ji
Instruction Language:	Hindi
Comments:	Challenging, but Goutam Ji made it a really great course, and it was really useful to communicate with my host family and later in my Independent Study Project.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Reproductive Epidemiology
Course Department:
Instructor:	Varied
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Professionals in the field came to give us lectures, giving a really grounded approach.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Sexual Minorities & the Right to Healthcare
Course Department:
Instructor:	Varied
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	It was really interesting how they brought in outside lecturers with different opinions on each subject. It was eye-opening and really cool how the excursions tied in to all of this.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Field Methods & Ethics
Course Department:
Instructor:	Shaweta Ji
Instruction Language:	English
Comments:	Professor Shaweta Ji made this course really interesting and interactive. I used all of the tips, and I was surprised by how well it worked to make the Independent Study Project process really fluid.
Credit Transfer Issues: