The first line basically says, Orientation (as well as signing up for classes) is a pain in the butt.
What are our options as far as where we can take classes? I will give my audience a short tutorial.
1. IFSA Castellano (3 credits) (Starts
Our host program says that we MUST take a mandatory class: se llama Castellano Avanzado y Cultura Argentina. Essentially this class focuses on. However, the topics are heavily focused on Argentinian aspects.Additionally, each of these classes have concentrations on specific topics: Cinema/Film Studies, Literature, Grammar, Writing, Identity of Argentinians, Popular Music, and Argentina Feminism. Tons of choices! I am sure glad they make the most available for us extranjeros (estudiantes intercambios=exchange students).
2. Academic Concentrations (6 credits) including an internship
Choices include: Human Rights, Cinema, and Literature
Although I do not have a dying interest in participating in one of these concentrations, I thought it would be a interesting and useful challenge. I aspire to be a doctor so in my mind I could relate Human rights and medicine a little bit. Specifically, I fell in love with this concentration simply due to the pasantias (internships) which came with your respective class (Political and Social aspects of Derechos Humanos). I picked the social side of things; my advisors recommended that I take this because it would relate very close with what my internship is: Public Health. I am going to work with an organization called Fundacion Huesped.(www.huesped.org.ar) This group focuses on AIDS and HIV and how we can prevent it along with educating the public.
*Now that I have 9 credits, I have up to 9 credits remaining for me to elect 2-3 more classes.
I have 4 Argentine Universities from which I can choose courses : UBA, UTDT, UCA, USAL
Here, the academic system hardly correlates with the american system. From the time Argentinians start there college years (or maybe even earlier), they chose a specific Carrera (essentially a Major for us, but more specific). For instance, if I was Argentinian then I would chose la Facultad de Medicina, which is where all students who aspire to study medicine take their courses-they wont have to take any literature courses. To me, this sounds much more intimidating. What happens if you change your mind? Each facultad is essentially its own university.
This is where I mention UBA (Universidad de Buenos Aires):
Facts to know: Public University and completely free (including the medical school)
One of the most prestigious universities in the world
Has almost 300,000 students
There is no central campus, rather its respective buildings are spread around the massive city of Buenos Aires
Che Guevara attended school here (this is the coolest fact), and he did Facultad de Medicina (just like me...)
Each class here translates to SIX credits back home.
The 6 credit per class was quite the turn off for what I was looking for. I aspire to complete all my basic requirements for Miami University: Art History and a History/Literature combo course are top priorities.
UTDT, UCA, and USAL are private universities translating to: 5, 3, and 3 credits, respectively.
I am leaning towards: UCA and USAL.
Reasons why: Proximity and number of total credits if I took two classes: 15 (the minimum that we are allowed to take)
I live in Caballito (center of city): UCA-located in Puerto Madero (picture), a 30-40 minute bus ride away
USAL is located in Recoleta (40-50 minute bus ride away)
UTDT is located in Belgrano (40-1 hr bus ride away and additionally further away from every other point of interest)
*The ranges are a result of the variation in el transito (the traffic)
Once I confirm which courses I want to take, I will talk more about those in detail.
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