IHP Cities Spring Program Past Review
By Marly F (Anthropology., Barnard College) for
SIT Study Abroad: IHP - Cities in the 21st Century: People, Planning and Politics
Yes, but because the people made it so. The program has a lot of potential and will hopefully improve upon its weaknesses, but know that you will ultimate create your own experience on IHP.
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. |
The classes and academics are not what makes the semester. The grading is hard to comprehend because the professors were using an unexplained foreign system with some apparent curve at the end of the program. Teaching methods were not my favorite, but the professors change every semester so it really depends. What you learn on IHP will be from the experience and not from the classroom. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Every semester on IHP is different, but in my experience, the program directors were not as helpful or responsive as I would have liked. However, the connections they provided in each country was amazing, the other students were amazing, and it's really the only program of its kind. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The host families were wonderful! I got to practice my French in Senegal and learn Spanish in Buenos Aires (but I had to take the initiative to do so both times - the program doesn't have a strong language component). |
| * Food: |
Be prepared for an unbalanced diet! |
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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: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Transport to and from school. |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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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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