China is amazing and unique. Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/13/2019 to 06/08/2019 with
IFSA/Alliance: Shanghai - International Business in China
It was definitely a worthwhile experience, and I will return to China in the future because I had an amazing experience. My Chinese language fluency has increased a lot and the program is more intensive than at Brandeis, so you learn to read and write the characters. China is so different and so innovative. I learned so much about the second largest country in the world, and seeing how the Chinese live has helped me to implement better practices that I picked up during my time there. For example, they use SO much plastic in China that coming back here, I am much more aware of how to care for the environment.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorms they placed us in were in the graduate student housing, and they are very nice. They were 4 person suites with 2 bathrooms and a shared common space. It is a close walk to the SUFE university campus as well (about a 15 minute walk or a 5 minute bike). |
| * Food: |
The food is AMAZING, super accessible, and super cheap. |
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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) |
In China, everything is cheaper compared to the states. Food, transportation, etc. If you want to do more, for instance travel, or order out more, or go out, that will obviously cost more. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $75 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Just keep a tab of your expenses, and set a weekly budget for yourself and when you go on trips so you do not exceed your budget. It can be easy to lose track of how much you spend since you think everything is cheap, but it can add up. |
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? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Chinese 10 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
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? | I wish I knew how fast the program would fly by. I didn't expect every week to go by so fast! |
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. |
