Highly recommend SIT! Past Review
By Taisa V (Neurobiology, Neurosciences, Wesleyan University) - abroad from 02/21/2017 to 06/05/2017 with
SIT Study Abroad: Argentina - Public Health in Urban Environments
I learned that it's ok to be outside of your comfort zone because you'll always find your way around with the right people to help you!
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Great. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Really great. The program directors and coordinators really do their best to make you feel at home and comfortable. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
They do a really great job of matching students to their appropriate homestay. |
| * Food: |
Food was great. Empanadas are a must try!!! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The great thing about living in Buenos Aires is that a lot of the events are sponsored by the government and are free of charge! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I did not have issues with healthcare. Some of my classmates did but it was very accessible for them. |
| * Safety: |
Buenos Aires is very safe as long as you take the necessary precautions (always keep track of your phone and/or wallet, always take a Radiotaxi, never take the subte alone at night, etc. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I learned so much about myself and what I want to do with my life through this program. |
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) |
It really depends per week, but I would say on average I spent $50-100 per week. The program provides a stipend for lunch and transportation to and from ISALUD (your home university) so that helps out a lot. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $25 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Have an excel spreadsheet or something to keep track of your spending (you'll be surprised how much you spend!) |
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? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Advanced |
| 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 if you can with friends/family that speak Spanish before coming! Watch movies/read books in Spanish (it helps to have Netflix subtitles on in Spanish while playing your favorite show or movie). |
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? | The program was more academically rigorous than I thought it would be but it was well worth it. |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Epidemiology and Social Determinants of Health |
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| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | The course was set up in modules that covered 6 different aspects of epidemiology: everything ranging from health equity, to aging, to urban environments and health. Each module was taught by a different professor and this was great because it allowed for a variety of different perspectives on health and equity in health. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No, I did not have any issues transferring the credit. It was relatively easy because the syllabus was very detailed and in English. |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Health Policy, Systems and Programs |
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| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | This Seminar is great because it introduced me to the health system in Argentina, and by the end of the seminar I had a good foundational knowledge of health systems that I was able to bring back with me and compare it to the US health system. This seminar was taught in modules as well and the professors seemed very knowledgable. We were assessed mainly through papers and oral presentations. We also went on excursions where we got to explore the health system of Buenos Aires as well as other provinces. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No, I did not have any issues. I suggest letting your study abroad office and your major advisors know as soon as possible that you plan on taking these courses. They may not count toward your major, but they should count toward your overall credit count. |
