Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Studying abroad in Taipei June 01, 2024

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/21/2024 to 05/18/2024 with

CET Taiwan

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I improved my chinese skills. I gained a stronger sense of independence. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and learned how to navigate a new city. I developed more resiliency and courage.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The elective courses are interesting. I took the cross-strait relations class and it was definitely valuable. The chinese classes also help you improve a lot. However, it is quite rigorous and intensive. You will have class every single day for at least three hours. And one day a week you will have six hours of class. You also do not get any long school breaks (just one long weekend). Depending on the difficulty of your classes it can get overwhelming at times.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The CET on-site staff are very helpful and responsive. Any issue I had with my living situation or program logistics they were available to assist. Everything felt well organized.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Everyone is placed in apartments spread throughout the city, and so people's experiences can vary widely. I think I got lucky and was placed in a modern, newly-renovated apartment. Most people's apartments are spacious, can fit 5-8 people, and have two bathrooms. Everything worked well and when there was a maintenance issue, it was quickly addressed.

* Food:

Participants are entirely responsible for your food. There is no meal plan. Luckily, the food in Taiwan is really delicious and inexpensive. It is very easy to eat out. You can also cook in your apartments but not all kitchens come with cooking equipment etc.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

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)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $80 usd
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? definitely make a spreadsheet with a budget

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

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? high intermediate Chinese
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • meeting and interacting with local students
  • living in taipei
  • optional program activities and day trips
* What could be improved?
  • academic schedule
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? It is going to be hard. You will find yourself missing home and craving a sense of stability/security, but make sure you are savoring every moment of your time abroad. It is truly so valuable, and you will miss it when you return home.

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 Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.