Do This Past Review
By Anwyn D (Undecided, University of Massachusetts Amherst / UMass) - abroad from 08/27/2015 to 12/07/2015 with
SIT Study Abroad: Panama - Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation
It was absolutely worthwhile. I made friends who have become really important parts of my life and have inspired me and helped me find pieces of myself that I had lost. I learned so much about tropical ecology, conservation, and culture, but also learned a lot about myself.
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 |
All the work for this program is put on one person, the director. If there were two to share the duty, it would be 5 stars. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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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: |
Panama city itself is not very safe but we did not spend too much time there and as long as you're careful you're fine. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
This program was absolutely incredible. I am so thankful I had the experience. |
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? | Barely any. We were provided with allowance for food. If you want to go out and do extra things it comes out of your pocket though. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you want to save money, you can easily. Its not hard to budget yourself. |
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 |
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| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 2 |
| 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? | If you want to practice you have to make an effort. Its easy to speak english with the group. If you want to immerse yourself, you can. I spent 10 days by myself with a community that only spoke spanish and the native 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? | That I had stopped doing some things the past few years that are important to me |
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.' |
