Changing schools - and related visa issues

[abuck]

Hi all,

I am all set to start at Fudan this February, but have read some negative things on these boards and shanghaiexpat that make me have second thoughts.

Namely:

1) teachers are inexperienced,

2) not much opportunity to practice speaking in the classroom and

3) distance from the city center.

So I've been looking at applying to ECNU or Shanghai Jiaotong instead. Anyone have anything to add about those two universities (for studying Chinese language)? I know that ECNU in particular has been covered in other posts and I studied there myself last spring, but through CIEE. I know next to nothing about SJTU except that its Xuhui campus is much closer to the city center.

Since I don't have a JW-202 from anyone except Fudan, I was considering other visa options. Is there any way to enter on an L (tourist) visa and convert to F (study) visa once I'm in the country? How expensive/time consuming is it?

Ok, well thanks for your help - with a matter of weeks before I land in China, I'm getting a little desperate here!

Duo xie,

Amy

[dncdoor]

Visa - 没什么大问题

Jiaotong is the place to go to!

If you need some advice on the set-up at Jiaotong please message me and I would be glad to help you.

[Flagg]

Jiaotong is the place to go to!

Could you elaborate on this a bit?

A Chinese friend of mine reccomended it as well, but was unable to say why. She just said it's popular with foreigners.