Guangzhou is the craziest place in the world Past Review
By John G (Mba, Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management) for
Sun Yat-Sen University: Guangzhou - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learned that you can't rely on an institution. Go your own way.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The courses had great names, but the content and work had little to do with the title. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There is no information available to incoming students. They may as well have shipped me to Siberia without a coat. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in the Blue Gardens, very close to campus. It looked ok, but the materials used for the building were very poor. The apartment itself slowly decomposed around us. Our door looked strong, but we were robbed and a few things were taken. The restaurants were tasty but got old and repetitive. Nightlife requires a cab ride, but it's cheap. Try SoHo, True Color, and Loft are good places for nightlife. You will need to buy a few things for the flat, and there's a Ikea near East Guangzhou Railway Station. Rental agencies can help, but school administrators and landlords usually don't care about any problem you might have. |
| * Food: |
I hope you don't have any allergies. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The students took the initiative to make the program interesting outside the classroom. Don't wait for the school to help with anything outside the classroom. Feel free to miss class to go on vacation or sightseeing. I travelled to Tibet, Beijing, Xi'an, Thailand, and Hong Kong, never thinking twice about the work I was missing. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Guangzhou has a higher crime rate than most of the country, and it shows. My apartment was robbed. There are riots near factories. Healthcare is expensive if you want quality, and if you're reading this you qualify for that demographic. I got very sick and found an American doctor, though he was expensive it was worth it and I was better a week later. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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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) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
The school does not effectively integrate the foreign students into the Chinese student body. I had little or no interaction with Chinese students. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Don't expect to learn anything in the classroom. Do whatever you want and the school will accomodate you. |
