Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Good bang for the buck February 01, 2024

By (Science, Technology and Society, Georgetown University) - abroad from 09/04/2023 to 12/17/2023 with

SIT Study Abroad: Panama - Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was very worthwhile. I gained new perspectives and experienced many new unique things and environments.

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 found it to be an overall worthwhile experience, much more in-the-field than my classes at my home school.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program hosts were very good at orienting us and we felt very taken care of.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing is as it is advertised on the SIT website. It's somewhat tougher, AKA no air conditioning, but it's what you signed up for.

* Food:

Very tasty. Just note you can't be vegan on this program.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt like I learned a lot about the local culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Need specific vaccines prior to leaving. Note that healthcare in Panama is not as good as in other industrialized countries.

* Safety:

Never felt unsafe.

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

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)

Stuff is cheap in Panama

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Host Family
  • Apartment
  • Hotel
  • Hostel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
  • 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? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Seeing a jungle
  • Coral reef surveying
  • Climbing
* What could be improved?
  • Sometimes the food was the same thing a bunch of times in a row
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Bring rain pants.