Tsinghua University Life Past Review

By (Economics., The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 02/15/2013 to 06/19/2013 with

Tsinghua University: Beijing - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Completely worthwhile, gained a great understanding of Chinese and learned a whole new culture and way of life

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.

Class structure is different and can be difficult.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

You are responsible for all administrative task.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

Cheap and safe, but not always healthy.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

You are not allowed to Question a doctor.

* 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)

China is very cheap and University expenses are heavily subsidized

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $40

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

Teachers did not know or use English. Only Chinese (Mandarin) was used.

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
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Chinese-1
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
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?
  • The people and Friends
  • Traveling
  • The Language
* What could be improved?
  • Air quality
  • Food safety
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? You must have a Face/Filter Mask for Beijing.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.