Bumming in Beijing January 22, 2026

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Personally, the academic rigor was just right. It largely depends on your Chinese level, but I found the program had a ton of staff and resources to support. I found the 1on1 class to be the most personally fulfilling class, but I know that it largely varies based on topic and the tutor you were paired with.

On-site administration of your program

The on-site administration were some of the kindest people I have ever met! I cannot extend enough praise towards them. They made the program so memorable.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was very satisfied with my living arrangements. I have no complaints other than occasional construction being done in my room without my knowledge beforehand.

Beijing is in a big city, so good food is certainly not difficult to come by-but you need to know the spots. Being Chinese-American, I was much pickier about Chinese food than the average student there. Despite being such a big city, I found the international cuisine to be lacking. Obviously, these complaints had nothing to do with the program. The food in the dining hall was very cheap and were usually given very large portions, so it was very economical to eat in the dining halls.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

It was difficult to feel integrated with the local culture with the academic rigor of this program, but the administrative staff did give out recommendations so that you could choose to explore the city in your own time. The excursions and planned activities were a great source of cultural learning as we went to several famous historical sites. If you wanted to get integrated with Chinese culture, you had to get out of the big cities.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Kate Monroe, who sadly is not working in this program anymore, did an absolutely fantastic job addressing the health issues of every student in the program and with being a pillar of support for when health issues did come up. The local healthcare system was extremely comprehensive and all covered by our insurance.

China is extremely safe, but be careful when biking.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Beijing is one of the more expensive cities. If you're willing to invest in time to learning to bike around the city, cut out 滴滴 costs and eat in the dining hall everyday, it's definitely possible.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

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• Dorm

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• Local Students

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• Americans

• People
• Food

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The Academic or Linguist