I just applied to NTNU (National Taiwan Normal University) and NTHU (National TsingHua University).
In the unlikely case that I am accepted at both, which one should I choose?
Criteria:
Campus architecture (does it feel more like Harvard or the community college in that one tv show “Community”?)
Classmates (are they friendly? smart?)
Stundent clubs (do they have good clubs for badminton, ping-pong, judo, mountain climbing, or some fun thing i never even thought of?)
p.s. I somehow get the feeling that Hsinchu is the most sober collegetown in the world. Does everybody there just study 24/7?
Others here who have had experience of Taiwanese higher education institutions will be able to give you a more informed answer than me. But I can safely say that studying in Taiwan, your experience will be nowhere near either something like Harvard, or something like Chevy Chase.
I’d guess a few Muslim-country universities have it beat, but yeah, drinking isn’t a big part of university culture here. They’ll spend all night in a KTV sober, and as a result I both admire them and wonder how we can possibly be the same species.
No. Studying is not part of university life here either. They spend their high school life being told that, once they enter university, they won’t have to study anymore. We university teachers try to rid them of this notion, but meet only limited success.
To be honest I’m somewhat bewildered by what they do with their time. Getting them to name hobbies beyond sleeping, eating, shopping, and watching TV is a bit of a chore.
The NTNU campus is OK but more in a century-old city high school way than a leafy green campus way. NTU’s is actually quite nice. I don’t know anything about NTHU.
Most definitely do not expect student participation, ever. Seminars do not happen, even if they are called seminars. Friendly classmates? Yeah. Smart? Quite possibly. Demonstrating intelligence (i.e. interested in an intellectual discussion)? Unlikely.
An impressive number of clubs are charity-oriented, but I haven’t heard about any that seemed particularly fun or life-changing.
But maybe you should talk to me when I haven’t had a bad week.
Well, spatially, NTHU and NTNU are very different campuses. NTHU is suburban, hilly, forested, and spacious, with three or four ponds/small lakes and an extensive trail system at the top of the campus. NTNU is compact and urban, in the thick of Taipei, surrounded by many things of interest.
OP: what department(s) did you apply to? Are you trying to get into a graduate program or to do undergraduate study? If you answer these questions we might be able to give you better advice.
Cancel your applications and turn your sights somewhere else. Seriously.
Though you probably won’t take my advice, so…NTHU. Better reputation, less foreigners (I think). Depends on what you’re studying, though. Education or Humanities -> NTNU. Engineering or Science -> NTHU.
People start drinking in fourth year. Make friends with the students from Macau and Hong Kong, they know how to drink a bottle of whiskey a night in first year. Get involved in their clubs too, all of their meetings are held at pubs and KTVs over a ridiculous amount of alcohol. Classmates are friendly everywhere if you make the effort. Both schools will have a ridiculous selection of clubs and activities to choose from. Department should be guiding your choice rather than environment and budget, because these two unis are really nothing alike academically.
[quote=“afterspivak”]Well, spatially, NTHU and NTNU are very different campuses. NTHU is suburban, hilly, forested, and spacious, with three or four ponds/small lakes and an extensive trail system at the top of the campus. NTNU is compact and urban, in the thick of Taipei, surrounded by many things of interest.
OP: what department(s) did you apply to? Are you trying to get into a graduate program or to do undergraduate study? If you answer these questions we might be able to give you better advice.
Guy[/quote]
I applied to MS in Computer Science at NTHU and BA in Teaching Chinese at NTNU.
lol. But is it because the students are shy, or do the teachers discourage it? If I ask questions in class will I get smacked down?[/quote]
I really don’t know. My guess is peer pressure, in the sense that it’s just not done. I certainly encourage it in my classes, but perhaps other teachers don’t. The whole high school system is geared around near-zero creativity, and simply reproducing what you’ve learned for the tests, so I assume that’s part of it - the kids hit university and I don’t think they’ve ever been told to think for themselves before.
Oh, and on learning how to teach Chinese here: I don’t know too much about this, but the language-teaching pedagogy here is, um, not particularly modern.
lol. But is it because the students are shy, or do the teachers discourage it? If I ask questions in class will I get smacked down?[/quote]
I really don’t know. My guess is peer pressure, in the sense that it’s just not done. I certainly encourage it in my classes, but perhaps other teachers don’t. The whole high school system is geared around near-zero creativity, and simply reproducing what you’ve learned for the tests, so I assume that’s part of it - the kids hit university and I don’t think they’ve ever been told to think for themselves before.
Oh, and on learning how to teach Chinese here: I don’t know too much about this, but the language-teaching pedagogy here is, um, not particularly modern.[/quote]
Exactly like U.S. high schools? Cool.
Cancel your applications and turn your sights somewhere else. Seriously.
Though you probably won’t take my advice, so…NTHU. Better reputation, less foreigners (I think). Depends on what you’re studying, though. Education or Humanities -> NTNU. Engineering or Science -> NTHU.
I agree 100%…especially if its chinese classes…it is far better and cheaper to go to the private schools…
Ive studied in 2 schools in taipei…
Taiwan mandarin institute and also Taipei Language centre…both where excellent!!i have put both their websites below
Little Traveler Boy, you are discussing a different topic :no-no:
As already stated, I am applying for degree programs (Computer Science and Teaching Chinese). There are posts on learning Mandarin elswhere on the forum.
