An Incredible Landscape for Learning and Friendship! February 03, 2026
By A student (Environmental Studies, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/01/2025 to 12/12/2025 with
The School for Field Studies / SFS: Chile
I had a very unique opportunity to create and conduct a large qualitative research project with a small group of my classmates in which we interviewed the local community about the impacts of the local industries on their lives and the governance and development in the region. While working on this project, I got to practice various research and writing skills, connect in new ways with the local community, work for many long hours in a team of peers and an advisor, and create a product I am genuinely proud of that can hopefully have an impact on the community at large.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
While certainly advertising themselves as an academically rigorous program, I felt that the courses we took were largely introduction courses that required little work outside of class time. In a place as vast as Patagonia, there was certainly more to be learned in ecology, climate, politics, language, and culture - I would say we hardly scratched the surface of any of it. All work was group work and no tests except for the final exams. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Very kind and accommodating people! Curfew 11pm on week nights and midnight on Saturdays. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Great dorms no complaints. |
| * Food: |
Good variety of food made for us 3-4 times per day 6 days per week! |
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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: |
Extremely safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
SFS Chile introduced me to people who I will be friends with for the rest of my life. At times it felt more like summer camp than school. And what better place to take a break from the academic rigors and social woes of college life than Chilean Patagonia?! We got to some of the most incredible places I have ever been that I can't imagine I will ever get to experience again, while knitting and playing cards and juggling and hacky sacking and giggling. |
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) |
Only expenses were when we chose to go out to eat/for activities on our own. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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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? | 0 |
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? | You're not going to learn Spanish. You are going to eat a lot of empanadas. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |
