Rewarding Experience in Hong Kong Past Review
By Stephanie C (Accountancy, Villanova University) for
University of Hong Kong / HKU: Direct Enrollment & Exchange
All in all, my experiences were amazing in Hong Kong because I fulfilled and surpassed my academic, personal and professional goals. Academically, I was most definitely challenged by the coursework. It was a unique experience because they were all classes I would not have found at my home university. The classes not only broadened my horizons, but also sparked in me an interest in sustainable tourism. I never would have considered going to graduate school, but it is now definitely a path I’m looking into. Amidst the schoolwork, I had the opportunity to create some professional networks with two boutique investment banking firms in Hong Kong. Going to the offices and meeting with professionals who worked in Hong Kong gave me a taste of the work environment—it’s fast paced but they still value their hour long lunch breaks. I had two offers to intern but ultimately wasn’t able to because of visa conflicts. On a personal level, I made life long friendships with fellow exchange students, and local students. Miscommunications and getting lost trained me to be humble and patient. More than anything, being in a foreign nation helped me to understand my own identity. I can see clearly now who I am as an individual, and how I can be a better one.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Officially registered into the Department of Social Science, the classes I took: POLI0080 Global Political Economy with Professor Sohn SOCI0019 Lifestyles and Modern Culture with Professor Colin Smith GEOG3414 Culture, Social Justice and Urban Space with Professor Meghan Blake HIST2077 Eating History with Professor Staci Ford BSTC2004 Chinese Buddhism and Ritual with Professor Sik Fa Ren All the classes are conducted in English, and any changes I wanted made I had to go directly to the department the class belongs to (similar to Villanova). Classes were challenging but I was impressed by it’s efforts on individual growth. In my SOCI0019 and HIST2077 class, there is a tutorial session in which the class of 33 students are broken up into groups of 6 people to discuss the lectures thoroughly. POLI0080 is requiring us to conduct a group debate (7 vs. 7) at the end of the semester- exercising research, analytical, teamwork and presentation skills. GEOG3414 was the hugest surprise, because our final project is actually a group project with the whole class of 35 people. Utilizing her lectures, and observations and heavy research, we are to create a website about the wet markets in Hong Kong (through an urban social geographical lens). |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Though I was officially a visiting student, I was treated with the same benefits of an exchange student (except for the housing situation). My expectations were met though because going into the program I knew that housing was not guaranteed. Ultimately, a month into the program, I was offered housing in the international dorm. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Patrick Manson Building. 5 minutes to class and 15 minutes to nightlife. You have the option of renting a pillow/blanket/sheets. Mattress, bed, desk, chair provided. Communal kitchen on every floor. |
| * Food: |
One dining hall. Very cheap food but low quality. Better luck eating at Cafe de Coral in the St. Mary's Hospital up Sassoon Road. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Optional field trips are arranged for exchange students. There is a global lounge where a lot of the international students congregate. Because I did direct enrollment, I had to actively seek out social events--but all your fellow exchangers will be open to meeting you! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Very safe city-especially on Hong Kong island because it's a predominately a expatriate area. There is a health service on campus included with the program fee. My dorm had a security guard from 10PM to 8AM. |
| 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
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
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? | If it's your first time in Asia, Hong Kong is the perfect "east meets west" backdrop. To get the most out of this country, direct enrollment, will you give the best access to local students-it's hard to understand the country from the outside peering in. Hong Kong has a lot of subtle differences to any other country in Asia, and learning from your peers will give you the best insight! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
GEOG3414 |
| Course Department: | Geography |
| Instructor: | Megan Blake |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | Attendance was not required, but all the points she goes over in class were ultimately valuable to the integrity of the mission of the class and the completion of the final project. Our final project is actually a group project with the whole class of 35 people. Utilizing her lectures, and observations and heavy research, we are to create a website about the wet markets in Hong Kong (through an urban social geographical lens). An individual portfolio and final exam is 50-50 breakdown of the final grade. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
