As exchange students we are not treated any differently than regular full time students. The support we receive from the university and staff is exactly the same than the one locals have. We are able to use the different support departments and facilities there are on campus such as the library, computers, gym, writing center support, etc. Some days ago I needed to go to the medical center and I was checked by a doctor completely free. The only support we have that locals do not is a tutor (local student with more than three years at the university) that is assigned to each of the exchange students at the beginning of the semester and basically he or she can assist us with any question we might have. At the beginning of the semester I used to chat often with my tutor in order to get help with different school related information that I needed.
As we have the same support of local students, professors do not make any exceptions for us and expect to do just as well as locals. We obviously have a disadvantage with the rest of the students, which is that we are not used to the evaluation system. Particularly I feel that American way of teaching in terms of learning is absolutely more efficient. In America we are constantly evaluated by homework, quizzes, midterms, presentations and projects. These abundant–many time excessive–evaluations make students to be constantly studying and reading about the materials thought in class. Here the system does not create the incentives for students to read or study. As there is only final project (40%) and one exam (60%) it is difficult to think that students will be everyday reading about the material. I personally read as I enjoy the topic but I do it without the meticulous attention that I do so in the United States as I am not being evaluated on the topic until the very end of the semester.
I do need to mention that despite I dislike the system, professors are extremely well prepared and they teach in a unique dynamic way so that we learn while enjoying. One of the professors I have, for my politics & public opinion class, is a well-known analyst of political campaigns and researcher of the Hong Kong’s public opinion. His analysis are constantly cited by the local press and his polls, where he measure the popularity of local leaders, have impact on the politics of Hong Kong. It is a real privilege to have these type of professors.
