Study at BLCU or Beishida after a year in Taiwan?

[dajaphonics]

Hello, I am leaving for Beijing in late August or early September. My girlfriend is teaching economics at Beijing Agricultural University. My goal is to study Chinese full time and possibly tutor English on the side.

I lived in Taiwan for a year. I took classes at a place called Taipei Language Institute in a private setting. So my Chinese isn't great but I'm certainly past the beginning stage. I also haven't practiced written Chinese, I focused almost entirely on spoken Chinese in Taiwan. Does anyone have a recommendation on which of these universities is the better choice?

Proximity to Beijing Cultural University would also be a plus.

I am an American but would prefer to be more immersed in Chinese culture. I don't like living in the western bubble while abroad. If anyone else has other suggestions please let me know. Thanks.

John

[roddy]

Beishida for having fewer foreigners around. BLCU for proximity to the Agricultural University. But either way you'd be well advised to get started on characters, Chinese universities use them from scratch and if you can't handle them you could well end up placed below your level in terms of speaking.

[zerolife]

I would choose Beishida (BNU). Too many Western crowds at BLCU and the Wudaokou area in general.

And Beishida is not that much further away from Agricultural University. I mean they are all in the North Western side of BJ

[dajaphonics]

Thanks for your reply. Is it easy to get from the agricultural university to Beijing Normal University?

[evasiege]

Roddy,

Do all universities place you in classes based on your least developed ability? Honestly if this were the case, I probably wouldn't attend a university even if I did get the CSC scholarship. I haven't studied speaking/reading for the past 3 years to sit in beginners classes again.

[dajaphonics]

How is the transport from the area surrounding BLCU to the Normal University? Is it easy to bike there, or would the underground system or bus be more suitable for this trip?

Also, I believe I am going to just enroll in the non-degree seeking course. Does anyone have any pros or cons of entereing the degree course. I believe it takes two years to complete a Chinese degree. I would think it would be more intensive than the non-degree course work but that's just out of assumption. Also, my application is due on July 31. Does anyone know how long this process takes? Do I have enough time to get my application in? Do I pay the application fee first before carrying on with my application?

Cheers!