Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

The Hong Kong Experience Past Review

By (Political Science and Government., University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse) for

University of Hong Kong / HKU: Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I loved my time abroad and I want to go back to Asia in the near future. I learned a lot about myself, different cultures, and different forms of politics while there. I enjoy challenging myself and being independent and living abroad offers that kind of life.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes are much easier at City U, which makes it easier to balance travel and school work. Professors assign a lot of group projects. Classes only meet once a week but the classes are three hours long. Many of the students lack discipline; talking in class, playing on computers, texting, showing up 45 minutes lates, distracting others.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

We were pretty much left to our own devices when it came to figuring things out but if you had a question they always had an answer for you or would help you figure it out.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Living in the dorm was an interesting experience; we were a mix of local, intenational, and mainland students so there were a lot of cultural differences that we all got to learn about and try to understand. The neighborhood around the residence area was extremely safe and you have security gaurds posted at your dorm 24 hours a day. We did have to purchase things for our rooms; like sheets, fans, hangars.

* Food:

The best advice I can give for food is go out and explore the city; pick random places, you will rarely ever go wrong.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I got to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day while there and had a lot of fun. You can always find other students to go to the festivals with and share the experience.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

As long as you are smart about what you do you can be perfectly safe while traveling in Hong Kong.

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)

Language

If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • I liked the region the most, there is so much to see and four months is not enough time.
* What could be improved?
  • The home administration needs to be better organized
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? This program is good for students who want independence while studying abroad, since it is an exchange program nothing is really set up for you and you have to put together your own adventures. Take advantage of everything that comes your way because you never know when you will get a chance to do it again.