Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Gateway to China Past Review

By (Conservation Biology, Colorado State University) - abroad from 09/01/2015 to 12/14/2015 with

SIT Study Abroad: China - Health, Environment, and Traditional Chinese Medicine

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Through the independent study project, I made many contacts that will help me in my professional aspirations down the road. I am using those contacts to help me return to China for a research internship this upcoming summer.

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

This program gave me so much freedom to engage directly with the local people. It taught me the life skills I needed to travel independently in the country and to study the language and culture on my own using the local people as my teachers. I came away from the experience with many, many local Chinese friends with whom I continue to correspond regularly through internet social media, and through them I continue to learn more and more about Chinese culture and practice my language skills. The program provides more material than any student, even the most diligent, dedicated student, could absorb. The assignments are difficult, but the grading is very generous. This allows you to focus on learning what you are most interested in. Whether it be Chinese history, social issues, environmental policy, conservation issues, religions, cuisines, ethnic minority cultures and current government policies, or really anything else, you can focus on your passion while gaining a broad overview of all the other subjects. The teachers are very knowledgeable, and you travel to many parts of Yunnan Province to gain exposure to the diversity of cultures in this part of the country. Finally, through the Independent Study Project, you can explore what you are most interested in in great depth in whatever way you want.

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)

This is a difficult one. The Program is extremely expensive, and most students would not be able to afford it on a typical student budget. I was lucky enough to get scholarships to pay for the program for me. You should know that once you pay the tuition and fees, they give you lavish stipends that you can spend on food, transportation, and other things.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? None. I actually got quite a bit of money back through the very generous living stipends that I couldn't spend entirely.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? SIT offers scholarships through some universities. They took $5000 off my cost of attendance. Make sure you look very carefully for scholarships.

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? I took level 4 Chinese before the program
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? Just don't be shy. By asking questions to local people, you will make friends and learn tons about the local culture

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* 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? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The authentic, genuine interaction with local people both in the city and in the countryside
  • The opportunity to pursue the subjects that interest you the most.
  • The great food and great destinations the program staff take the group during two weeks of traveling in NW Yunnan near the end of the program.
* What could be improved?
  • Language Classes need to be more efficient and rely less on the textbook
  • They should provide more guidance on how to ask good research question and the appropriate study design to best answer it.
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known how much we were given in living stipends. I would have bought a Chinese smartphone that could access internet via cellular signal. This would have been very helpful when wifi was not available, and it would have better facilitated social interaction via we chat.

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!