IHP: DO IT, but leave your expectations at home. Past Review
By A student (Biology/ Community Health, Tufts University) - abroad from 08/18/2012 to 12/20/2012 with
SIT Study Abroad: IHP - Health and Community: Globalization, Culture and Care (Spring 1)
The world is huge, and there is much work to be done.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Academics are very disappointing. There are many reasons to do this program, but academics are not one. Yes you will learn a ton, but not from your professors or class time. If you have low expectations for academics prior to the program you will not be disappointed. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Varies in each country. India program administration was lacking, but that is just because you are in India. In China and South Africa program ran very smoothly. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Hit or miss on homestays. Can be the best or worse part of your time, your bound to have one great experience and homestays are so vital to understanding the place you are in. |
| * Food: |
Delicious, but not so nutritious. Be adventurous and eat it all! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
More so than I expected, homestay families are great at showing you local customs and ways! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Rickshaws will NEVER be safe, and South Africa can be scary. Listen to advice of program directors. |
| 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) |
India and China are perfect for a student budget, except for vacation where you are on your own for 8 days. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50-100 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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? | Don't have any expectations, prepare to be discouraged/annoyed/afraid but embrace it all. |
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. |
