The College Expereince I Always Dreamed About Past Review

By Maria T (International Business, Loyola University New Orleans) - abroad from 08/10/2014 to 12/12/2014 with

The Beijing Center: Semester and Full Year Abroad

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

Besides just my improved language skills, I go a much more indepth vision of the Chinese culure and system of governance. We really were able to analysis the things around and just see China in a whole new light that isn't discussed at all in America. There was a lot of breaking down of stereotypes. Not to metion I really grew as a person in terms of being less shy and more confident and I was forced to be much more independent.

Review Photos

Loyola University of Chicago: Beijing - The Beijing Center Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	Challenging but in a good way that's extremely relevant to the real world job market. And AMAZING resources
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	So kind and helpful and really cared about you as a person.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Myself personally I was a little more integrated than most in my program because you get out of it what you put into it. It's very easy to almost completely separate yourself from the local culture except for when getting food if you want, but to me that's not what the experience was about.
* 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)	For me there were times I was trying to make $50 last for two weeks or more and that was hard, but if you had like $100 a week, you'd be good.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	Each week varied depending on what I wanted to do but I think in total was probably around $1100 for the semester (including souveniers for people) but I would suggest more if you can
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Start saving money early before your program so you don't have to stress about it while you are there.

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?	Advanced
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?	306 level college course
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?	Put yourself out there and sign up to have a Chinese roommate and make a rule in your room that you only communicate in Chinese

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
* 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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	Personal Accountability and Independence How you were encouraged to put yourself out there and step out of your confort zone while at the same time, if you failed or things got too scary you could come back to familiarity, regain the confidence and get out their again Sponsored traveling trips
* What could be improved?	Less Beijing outting because that is easy to do alone and more out of the city sponsored trips because those students with stricter finances can still go to like the great wall or tian a men square on their own, but may not be able to leave Beijing without the programs help Less hand holding but still very much there for if you try something and fail, to help you succeede More sponsored interaction with other local and international students on campus
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	How much more responsibility you have here than at your home institution and that getting involved on the Chinese college campus really wasn't that scary of a thing so try a little earlier.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	China in the World Economy
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Comments:	The negotiation simulation was an amazing project that really prepare to be ready for real world situations. Also teaches important life lessons.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	State and Society in China
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Comments:	Challenging but helps develop skills that are focused on in the normal university model. ie, putting together and extremely detailed two page paper with many variables being thrown in different ways. Close relation to like a proposal in the real world.
Credit Transfer Issues: