Program Reviews

I studied abroad at Syracuse University Florence in Spring 2013 and had a great experience. There were a wide array of classes offered, from painting to film, and many included field trips around Florence and other Italian cities. I particularly enjoyed living with an Italian host family, a retired couple. This allowed me to really practice my Italian; I still keep in contact with my host family. The only drawback is only American students are enrolled in the program, making it difficult to befriend Italian students.

I was part of one of Syracuse University Beijing Center's first programs. The experience completely changed my life. Both in terms of academics, cultural immersion, and language, this program opened me up to so many opportunities and changed the course of my life steering me towards a career in China when I previously had no intention to ever leave my home town. The people I met through the program are my family and Dr. Tong is still our "Beijing mom". We are about to have our 10 year reunion in a few weeks.

Now, years later, returning to the Tsinghua campus, the dorms we lived in, and the buildings where our classes were held makes me feel nostalgia in a way my own university in the US never could. I feel so very thankful for this life-changing experience that made Beijing a home away from home for me.

There are so many moments I wish I could relive during my study abroad in Beijing, China. The SU Abroad Beijing staff really wants you to have an incredible experience. They will work with you to make sure your needs are met. The SU Beijing Center is located at Tsinghua University, which is where you will be taking your courses with experienced professors. Classes will never be boring because it is a mix of discussion and field trips to historical and cultural landmarks around Beijing (The Great Wall, The Forbidden City, 798 Art District). Getting around is pretty easy--from your dorm all the way to the Chinese language center, you can practically bike all over campus! The cafeteria food is cheap and delicious! If you're feeling homesick, simply bike (8 minutes) or walk (15 minutes) to the neighborhood center, Wudaokou, for some Western cuisine!

What sets the SU Abroad Beijing program apart from others is its two-week signature seminar. When you first start the program, you will have 2-weeks to dive deeper into China's history and understand the perspective of locals who are trying to improve some of the country's issues. When I was abroad (Fall 2014), we had visits to environmental NGOs and had visits to ethnic-minority villages. You'll learn a lot about China by the time the program ends, and I guarantee you'll have so much to share after your return!

For any students seeking a unique global experience and passionate about Asia and emerging economy, SU Beijing is the right program for you. You will have the opportunity to study in China's number 1 university, Tsinghua University where its last 2 presidents graduated from. You would be able to attend 1 Tsinghua course that is being taught in English, but be mindful that it can be challenging. SU students are open to all courses being offered by SU Beijing Center and they are all excellent to help you gain understanding about China in a short period of time. I highly recommend Dr. Tong's political science courses, as you would have the chance to sit with Chinese students from Tsinghua U and have a discussion about the lecture topic. The signature seminar is another thing you should not miss. It is a great opportunity to not just travel but learn about the country at the same time. If you choose to do so, you can get a good internship through SU Beijing Center who will connect you with some local companies. Living condition can be tough, but international students' dorms are so much better compared to local students'. You will have a private room and bath, plus a cleaning service who cleans your room 3x a week. Foods are cheap and delicious, just be careful with the hygiene if you are eating out. Hope we will see you in Beijing!

Le Conservatoire de Strasbourg in connection with the Syracuse University Strasbourg Center is an excellent program overall that allowed me to fully grow as a musician. From the amazing professors, to my internships, to simply travelling across Europe all by myself I was able to gain the maximum benefits during my time abroad. Though I was skeptical to go anywhere abroad the faculty fully helped me adjust to the new territory.

There are so many amazing aspects of this program, but I think for me one of the most important parts was the independence that it provides. You are given the chance to find your own housing in London, with roommates and a landlord that you pick yourself. As stressful as it was at the time, it was an amazing way to experience life not just as an abroad student, but as a Londoner. Since it is easy to schedule classes for only three or four days a week, there is a lot of time to explore the city on your own or travel to other countries. The program has an AMAZING staff who is always there to help you with anything you need, but is not going to tell you what to do if you're not looking for that. There are tons of opportunities for free field trips, interesting classes and more that really enhanced my experience.

Because I have a ton to say but length reviews rarely get read completely, here are some short insights about my semester abroad in Strasbourg, France.

School: Your Ideal Facility
• Small, gorgeously designed facility. The house was actually an old war hide-out. No Pinocchio here! Ask the secretary, Sabrina!
• Computer cluster overlooking the beautiful Rhine River
• Involvement and interaction between various classes
• Extremely close to sandwich shops, bakeries, and other small food choice areas
• Close proximity to European Parliament (try an internship there!), the tramline, and where you'll stay
• You can actually take courses at the University of Strasbourg, too! (There are different options to choose when you start to apply abroad.)

Academics and Professors: Remember that "study" part of "study abroad?"
• Knowledgable, resourceful staff (ask Sabrina for student discount opportunities, grocery stores, printing questions, anything. That woman knows this city.)
• Your normal college workload, if not a bit less (no classes on Fridays. More time to do cool Eurpeany things.)
• Athletic programs you can take through the U of Strasbourg like rock climbing

HALT. LONG SECTION BUT COOL SECTION FOLLOWS.

City Culture and Travel: Get to Know It!
• Marvelous Christmas Market (ever heard of hot wine?) (type "Strasbourg France" into Google. It's one of the most searched terms.)
• Various night clubs and bars (check out Barco Latino, a bar on a boat that's actually in the Rhine River. Is that neat, or is that neat?)
• The Cathedral. No words.
• Fresh baguettes. That are actually still warm when you buy them. They're everywhere (even in gas stations! Would you believe that?)
• Speaking of gas stations, they're a neat resource within themselves. Fruit, wine, baguettes, veggies, snacks. They've got everying. Oh, and gas.
• Easy travel across the city from your pre-paid tram pass from the school (stop at random stops and explore. Strasbourg has so much dynamic.)
• Cyclists. EVERYWHERE. Rent a bike and you'll be set to travel the city. Most professors bike to work. Seeing professionals in business attire riding bikes will become normal to you. Also, get yourself a solid bike lock. Strasbourgers don't joke around with bikes.
• 15 minutes from Kiel, Germany (rumors are that the tram will extend right to Kiel instead of having to take a tram and a bus). Also, not so secret secret: Germany's prices are usually lower than France's. Try shopping at the Kiel mall. You'll save some Euros for drinks later.
• Incredible ease of travel outside the country (e.g. Ryan Air flights are astoundingly cheap. Weekend trip to London for 21 Euros? Sold.)
• Petite France, a conglomerate of higher-end restaurants with picturesque outdoor seating and lighting. Head back over to Google and check up on that.
• Museums everywhere. (Not as abundant as cyclists or warm baguettes, but there are a lot.)
• Gorgeous train station (Remember Google? Look up Gare Centrale. It looks like the outside of a roly poly bug.)
• Movie theater: French spoken, French with English subtitles, and English. Who could ask for more accommodation than that?

It's a little cliche ranking 10 for each aspect of my internship experience, but I truly had an amazing time interning here. Being an intern at such an welcoming, friendly and savvy company made the entire transition here so much easier (not that it was hard in the first place). But beyond that, I was able to peek into the British culture in a way I couldn't otherwise. I met people of all ages, from various backgrounds within the complex London ecosystem, and it attuned me to how different and unique each sect of this population truly is. Additionally, I formed new connections with people overseas who I'd be able to reach out to down the road. I also learned a lot about the world of digital media and digital advertising, and gained skills that I know will help me down the line as I progress through my advertising major back at Syracuse. I'm so happy I decided to intern abroad - it was such an enriching experience!

Hong Kong is an amazing place to visit. It is so undermined by many US students, however, it will be one of the greatest places you will visit and meet many new people. It is the perfect combination between east and west. Majority of my friends I have connected with are from Europe and people within the program. Contrary to popular belief, Hong Kong has amazing food, beautiful scenic areas such as the beaches, hiking trails and mountains as well as shopping. It is very convenient to travel to different southeast Asia for a cheap price. I visited 5 other countries when I was in Hong Kong.

I loved studying abroad in Strasbourg through SU Abroad. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I had the most amazing host mother and host brother, living in the heart of downtown Strasbourg easily accessible to everything. I only spoke French with them, ate authentic French cuisine and was truly immersed in the culture. I took all French classes at the SU center, so my language skills greatly improved. I met some of my best friends that I know I will talk to for many years to come. I had the opportunity to travel almost every weekend, totaling 11 different countries. Towards the end of the fall semester, my friends and I got to stroll through the quaint streets during the Christmas Market season. Strasbourg is the perfect city for study abroad: not too big so you feel like a native, but not too small that there was always something to do. Whether it was a quick bite at a boulangerie or a drink with a friend after class, I miss my time there every day. I look forward to the day I can go back and hopefully be a permanent resident in France.