Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The best study abroad program, hands down Past Review

By (Media Arts and Culture, Occidental College) - abroad from 09/01/2019 to 12/14/2019 with

SIT Study Abroad: Morocco - Field Studies in Journalism and New Media

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I definitely came out of the program very confident and gained research, interviewing, and storytelling skills. I'm not a journalism major, but I am definitely carrying my skills with me to the workplace in the future.

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.

If you’re thinking about it, do it. This is a really great program for aspiring/student journalists or anyone who is remotely interested in journalism; no prior experience is needed. The staff at the center you take classes at are really great, the program staff are amazing (shout out to the academic director, Dan, and the program coordinator, Samad), and it was super cool to work with/get feedback from our advisors (freelance journalists/photographers for NY Times and AP). The partnerships you form with the Connect Institute students for the independent study portion of the semester are also a valuable part of the experience.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

all of the staff were great, and super helpful.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had a rocky start to my home stay experience but the staff at the learning center were super helpful and I ended up with a positive experience for sure! The program would not be the same without home stay.

* Food:

amaaaazing. bread, tea, couscous fridays, street food. yes.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The home stay made it feel extremely integrated.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I got a really awful stomach bug and the program coordinator was able to get me a doctors appointment right away, and even accompanied me to the appointment. I got the medication right away and recovered quickly.

* Safety:

Rabat is a very safe city

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

If you’re thinking about it, do it. This is a really great program for aspiring/student journalists or anyone who is remotely interested in journalism; no prior experience is needed. The staff at the center you take classes at are really great, the program staff are amazing (shout out to the academic director, Dan, and the program coordinator, Samad), and it was super cool to work with/get feedback from our advisors (freelance journalists/photographers for NY Times and AP). The partnerships you form with the Connect Institute students for the independent study portion of the semester are also a valuable part of the experience. The city of Rabat is also beautiful, the food is amazing, the people are nice, and there are so many places to explore. If you get a chance, I recommend hiking Mt. Toubkal.

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? very little. On average, a quick meal in the medina costs around 20 DH, or about $2.

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? none
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? practice with your host family. They will really appreciate it. The people who were the fastest learners were always the ones practicing it with friends or at home.

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
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?
  • Independent study program
  • excursions
  • homestay
* What could be improved?
  • n/a
  • n/a
  • n/a
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? go explore outside of Rabat, and practice the language as much as you can.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!