Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Stretching but completely worth it Past Review

By (Journalism., Northwestern University) - abroad from 01/18/2013 to 05/13/2013 with

Beijing Foreign Studies University: Beijing - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Going on the language intensive program, I definitely gained confidence in Chinese. However, more than the language, the experience was valuable because of the people that I met and the exposure to a culture and society that shaped how I thought about things and the direction I want to head in in terms of future goals and careers. It was also great to be in China in general, because you get to see the country for what it is rather than through the eyes of media.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Having selected the Language Intensive program, there was 16 hours of Chinese classes a week, which was pretty demanding but very effective in improving my speaking, writing, and overall comprehension of Chinese. Core classes were manageable and not too demanding (depending on the class).

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

All administrators were willing to help and had a variety of resources to help you get acclimated to the program and the city.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in the dorm, which was very convenient (a 30-second walk to class since classes and dorms are in the same building). There are laundry machines, lounge, and kitchen.

* Food:

Food really depends on your personal taste and how adventurous you are. There are restaurants close by and a kitchen if you wanted to cook.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Having lived in Asia before the cultural environment wasn't much of a shock. However, my friends who hadn't lived in this kind of an environment before seemed to adjust really well. If you live in a homestay you can get more exposure to the local culture via your homestay family.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

IES Beijing was connected to an English-speaking hospital in the city and site administrators were very well-equipped when it came to addressing health issues.

* Safety:

Beijing was really safe. Like any city, just be cautious about going out at night and traveling alone.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Cost of living was very cheap in Beijing (food, shopping, etc.). However, at times, because everything was very cheap, it was easy to forget how much you were spending and end up spending more than you thought. Spending also depends on how much you want to spend on travel expenses.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

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

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
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?
  • People
  • Great Chinese language teachers
  • Traveling to Yunnan
* What could be improved?
  • More long weekends to travel
  • Being able to leave the country during program long weekends
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had better planned places to visit while in China.

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 Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.