Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

GREATEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE Past Review

By (Government, Economics, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 08/19/2013 to 12/05/2013 with

Chinese University of Hong Kong: Hong Kong - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I came to understand the meaning of life. 100% worth it, even if it costed 20x as much, I would still do it again.

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* 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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? SCHOLARSHIPS BITCOIN INVESTING

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? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Second semester Mandarin Chinese
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 EVERY STRANGER and make friends everywhere it's the only way. Taxi drivers, shop attendants, girls in nightclubs, guys in your dorm, servers at the cafeteria, teachers, berate them all with Mandarin, and do it unabashedly. They will LOVE YOU, you'll have a ton of fun, and you will reach advanced level conversation no matter what.

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

  • Local Students
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Backpacking through 3rd world countries (Myanmar, Cambodia, etc)
  • Practicing Chinese everywhere
  • Coming to understand what the other civilizations of the world are all about.
* What could be improved?
  • Dorms
  • Cafeteria food
  • Bell curve grading system (I got my first B's since 2011 and it sucked)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That I was gong to get two B's. It was the only disappointment.

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.'