My Best Experience Yet January 10, 2024
By A student (Chemistry, Wellesley College) - abroad from 09/01/2023 to 12/23/2023 with
University of Hong Kong / HKU: Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I now know what living in Hong Kong can be like.
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
As an American student, I my grades were lower than those of full-time students. Someone told me that HKU's teaching philosophy is that the professors will teach 30% and you're expected to learn the toher 70% because that's how the real world works. If you need any academic help, you need to seek it out. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There were orientation activities, where I met friends. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The space is a bit small, but that's to be expected. Lady Ho Tung Hall was very clean, and I got lucky when they placed me on the second floor because I had a lot of interactions with the cleaning ladies who were such a big part of my hall experience. They were so nice, said 'hi' to me every day, and checked in to see how I was doing. One time I was in the kitchen during lunchtime and they shared some of their food with me! One of them gave me a mooncake. The design of the showers was a bit problematic because other people's wastewater was able to enter my stall on the floor. |
| * Food: |
The canteens are highly subsidized, but I usually eat off campus because there are lots of delicious, cheap, and local restaurants near campus. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Usually, the exchange students tend to hang out with each other and the full time students tend to hang out with each other. They try to pair you with a local roommate. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I visited HKU's Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic and paid out-of-pocket for that---I didn't try to claim insurance. I like that TCM is an option in Hong Kong. |
| * Safety: |
I felt super safe in Hong Kong all the time. Even at 22:00, there are lots of people on the streets. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I met some really good people, the public transportation is amazing, the food is the best, and Hong Kong is beautiful. |
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) |
I ate every meal at a restaurant and wasn't saving money. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Exchange |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
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? | I should've been prepared with a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
