Past Review
By Lauren Y (Marketing., Indiana University of Pennsylvania) for
University of Macau: Macau - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
My study abroad experience was definately worthwhile, and I gained alot from my time there, and most of it included my experiences outside classroom. Not only was I able to learn a great deal about Asia and China, but I also learned a significant amount about the countries from which all of the international students came. Many were from Europe and other places in Asia, and just having the opportunity to speak with them and learn about their lives increased my understanding of life in other countries and truly expanded my knowledge of the world.
Personal Information
| If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here: | University of Macau |
| 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. |
As the university I attended was an English speaking university in China, the professors moved at a somewhat slower pace as many of the students were Chinese. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The professors and staff as well as students were extremely nice and very helpful. They did there best to assist me during my stay even though at times there were a few language barriers. The course material was not extremely difficult, but the professors were excited and enjoyed their subjects, which made the classes more enjoyable. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorms were dorms, but they overall they were very nice. They provided us with the option to purchase blankets, pillows, and sheets upon arrival, which was very helpful. The two biggest problems with the dorms were the slow internet and wireless speed and the moist moldy conditions of the dormitories. |
| * Food: |
The library cafe had great food at very affordable prices. Although there was not a meal plan at the university, there was a great deal of local restaurants with a variety of excellent food options. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The first week of orientation was extremely helpful and very interesting as they showed us the local area and some of the most famous places in the city. It allowed us to get to know the other international exchanged students better as well. Beyond this, my favorite trip was a personal trip taken to Beijing and the Great Wall. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The area in which we lived was extremely safe, and I never really worried about my safety in Macau. The health system was very helpful as I had first hand experience with going to the various hospitals. At times it was complicated, but with the help of local students, my friend and I were able to use and be treated successfully. |
| 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 |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Chinese 101 |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
It was complicated in that in Macau they speak Cantonese, while at the university they taught us Mandarin. So, I was able to pick up a few phrases in Cantonese, while increasing my knowledge of Mandarin slightly in the classroom as well. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | It is not very often that you get the opportunity to travel within Asia for six months. It is an awesome chance to see a world very similar, but at the same time very different from our life here in the United States, so do as much as you can and see as much as you can while there because it is a long plane ride home. |
