Spring in Shanghai, the best 4 months of my life! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I didn't feel that the classes were too demanding which is great because you don't go on study abroad to be overloaded with work. Of course, you go to learn but you also go to travel and converse with natives and if you spend all of your time doing coursework, how would you accomplish that? I felt that the professors were resourceful and knowledgeable, however, sometimes I did not like the structures of certain classes.

On-site administration of your program

I really liked everyone that I encountered on the administration. They were resourceful and were willing to help any student that had a problem. They planned fun trips for us and made themselves available all hours of the day. Not to mention they had to put up with 35 twenty some year olds. They are the best!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The dorms were a lot smaller than what I was use to living in my American dorm. However, you did have your own bathroom inside your room. It wasn't ideal but compared to my overall experience, it was a minor detail.

You could eat wherever you wanted. The campus had a cafeteria but you could eat on the backstreet restaurant, you could take the metro to the mall which had restaurants, you could use the dorm's kitchen to cook your own food. You had many options. It was all very good!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I feel if you wanted to connect with the culture, it was there. Whatever you put in, you get out. If you wanted to eat at local restaurants and speak with locals, they were there and sitting next to you but it was also easy to go to the American type restaurants. It completely depended on your personality and what you wanted out of your experience.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

They had very good western medical clinics. My program directors and assistants would help coordinate transportation or call the hospitals for us. I just had to call the insurance company provided by my study abroad program saying I was having an appointment. It was not a difficult process at all. The travel was only slightly inconvenient at times because the hospitals were far from our campus.

I never felt unsafe walking at night on the street or on campus. The campus was also gated with security guards so only students could come in or out after about 11 pm. I would say everyone else in my program felt the same way.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Transportation was very cheap, food in our neighborhood was very cheap as well. I would say shopping was maybe the most expensive thing.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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• Local Students

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• Location
• Travel weeks
• Students, Chinese teachers & Program Directors

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