China. No Joke, you can't describe it, or explain it, just experience it. Past Review
By Hanna V (International/Global Studies., Hope College) for
Beijing Foreign Studies University: Beijing - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
100% worthwhile
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. |
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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? |
it was a very safe area and very close to attractions such as the summer palace and a large shopping mall just a block away. |
| * Food: |
Vegetarians must be strict with asking the waiters if there is meat in a dish, for it may be cooked in a meat sauce and they don't consider that being meat. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Film Festival |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
very safe |
| 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | about 15 dollars a week on food. that's about 97 yuan and you can get an amazing meal for about 6-10 yuan. personal expenses were maybe around 15 as well. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | I wish I would have known about the hiking gear that we needed for the 2 week trip. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 296 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Everyone and everywhere. Beijing was an easy place to practice Mandarin without major difficulty understanding accents. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you want to be completely thrown into China culturally and academically this program is for you. They have a wonderful mix of academia and fun, but beware the work load is intense but the professors are AMAZING! |
