Alumni Review

Overall, I had a positive experience at CET Shanghai, and will be returning for another semester in the Spring. The best parts of the program are the Chinese classes, roommates, and internship. I think that having a Chinese roommate is probably the most unique aspect of CET Shanghai and was one of my most valuable experiences. Living and forming friendships with other Chinese college students was a really amazing experience, and I learned so much from them. All of our roommates were so helpful and nice, and genuinely wanted to form close relationships with us. The internship can go either way. Mine ended up being a very positive experience, but that's because I actually left the first internship I was placed in because the environment was not great. I know that this was the case with a lot of my classmates, who were working in internships where they weren't given much work or attention. However, I ended up working one on one with an artist in his studio which was great.
The Chinese classes are challenging and I feel that I learned a lot and that my level improved quickly. Taking classes in China with a Chinese teach is a unique experience which cannot be replicated in America. I liked the level of work and intensity of our classes, as I felt that I learned a lot without being overwhelmed.
The elective classes were probably the least positive part of my experience. The internship class didn't feel like a great use of time, but since it also didn't require a lot of work it wasn't a big issue. Overall there aren't a lot of options or variety offered with the electives. I ended up having to take economics when I would have much rather taken some kind of humanities class. The history class was interesting but in part a repeat of material I had already covered. However, the professor was great and actually let me read my own material in place of things which would have been review for me.
I think that this is a great program if you want a blend of language and work experience. It also offers a fair amount of free time to explore the city and travel to other places.