A lot of fun and enjoyable. I am glad I did it, but nothing beats being home. Past Review
By Samantha Hartshorn (Mount Saint Mary College) - abroad from 12/30/2016 to 01/16/2017 with
China Study Abroad Reflections: Comprehensive Reviews of Past Programs
Yes, it was very worthwhile I would do it all over again if I could.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 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? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I liked and enjoyed experiencing the culture. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Shanghai is very safe. It is probably one of the safest cities to visit. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I would definitely use the same program again while in China they were very resourceful and helpful. They were also very clean and neat and organized. |
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) |
China was so much cheaper than any other place I've been to. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Maybe at most $100 a week or less |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Barter a lot when buying at souvenir shops as much as you can. Also, do not settle you can always get it somewhere else cheaper. Also, pull out money in bulk for the week when you can to avoid ATM fees. |
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 |
I basically only used my manners in Mandarin; ie. Hello and thank you. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | I had none when I left |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 0 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Know basic Mandarin, I would recommend learning that basics your manners, numbers, and know how to say water. Otherwise you can point a lot to things that are written in English if you were to spend 6 months I would recommend learning more. |
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? | How cold it was going to be while over there. |
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. |
