Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Visiting China as a Chinese-American December 15, 2025

By (Business, Brandeis University) - abroad from 08/27/2025 to 12/13/2025 with

CET Shanghai

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned a lot about various type of people and my traveling style. It was worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academic were intense with weekly readings done before class and daily chinese homework and quiz. For chinese class, we have to hand write our homework, quiz, and biweekly tests. As for the elective courses, there was a final paper and presentation with some class even having a final exam on top. I feel like it was unnecessary to have that much. Usually in my home institution, it is one or the other for a final.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

CET administration staff are friendly, fun, and supportive!

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I absolutely love my roommate! I had no problems with my living arrangement and I really appreciate the private bathroom. However, I did not feel super welcomed by the dorm building’s staffs though because I am a heritage speaker Asian-American. There were times when they questioned my identity when I said I’m from the U.S. and they did not necessarily believe me just because I look and speak Chinese.

* Food:

Yummy Chinese food!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Given that I already know and experience the Chinese culture because of my background, I still don’t feel like I belong. I did not feel super welcomed by the locals because I am a heritage speaker Asian-American. There were many times when they questioned my identity when I said I’m from the U.S. and they did not necessarily believe me just because I look and speak Chinese. I also experienced nationalistic remarks of “you should come back, work, and live in China.”

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Very safe city! Train platform have barriers and people rarely steal here. Guns and drugs are illegal in China.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? No

I think I would’ve stepped even further out of my comfort zone to be in a culture I do not know anything about. Also the abroad students in the program were very cliche and I like to do my own things so I did not make much friends.

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)

It was easy since the conversion is low here, but I spent a bit more because I was traveling around and out of the country.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I can’t remember nor checked my bank account because it hurt to see minuses everyday.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Use a conversion calculator so that you are aware of how much you are spending!

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

Every 2 weeks, there is Chinese table lunch with the program and we have to speak in Chinese.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Advanced
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? CHIN 105A: Advanced Conversation and Composition
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Talk to people in Chinese and not just be in your comfort zone of speaking English amongst the abroad students.

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?
  • Cheap eats and goods
  • Very easy to travel around the country
  • My Chinese teacher. I wish I can bring her back to my university to teach.
* What could be improved?
  • Better quality of abroad students.
  • Preparing Asian-Americans better.
  • Fair use of reimbursement money. Not just letting it be free for all until it ran out. A student in the program basically used up most of it.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Chinese people give foreigners special treatment but not to Chinese-Americans.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer
Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'