Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

best four months (no thanks to Alliance) Past Review

By (Media Arts and Sciences, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/28/2012 to 12/17/2012 with

IFSA/Alliance: Shanghai - 21st Century City

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned SO much chinese, the rest of the classes were a joke. I=

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.

only good part was the Chinese language part

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

felix did not seem to like anyone on the program and made no effort to help or get to know us

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

tonghe was amazing

* Food:

eating with the program more than often made me sick.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* 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? No

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)

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? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* 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?
  • tonghe dorms
  • the other students
  • escaping from alliance programs
* What could be improved?
  • the administrator
  • the programs offered
  • the society and culture class was a joke
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? that the academic program was lousy

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 Urbanite
A 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.