Help needed finding a college, plus some dumb questions.

[Kingcodez]

Alright, I've been in Beijing since October of '08.

I decided to take time off before college in the US, so I came here.

Long story short, it's time to either go to college here, get a job here, or go home and go to school (I dunno what I wanna do still lol).

SO I love beijing so much and hated it when I went home in feb, I've decided to stay here, and learn Mandarin in a college because it is so cheap.

What I want to do is:

Go to a college- This college MUST have a 2 year Mandarin program, where upon successful completion gives me a Bachelor's degree (the 2 year one) in Mandarin.

Why? Because I don't know what to do after, If I go to a regular school adn take the HSK that dosen't help me in the US. It's a piece of paper vs a 2 year college degree. One big thing I want to do, is go in the USAF, but I want a 2 year degree before hand so I can enter OCS and become an Officer.

Officers make more money, less bad jobs, batter this, better that. SImple. Knowing a foreign language means huge signing and retention bonuses.

SO I don't want to waste my time in a non-degree/certificate program. It dosen't help me when I go back to the US. Sure I will learn Mandarin, but I will have nothing to show for it. A piece of paper isn't very appealing.

That being said, the college needs to be accredited right?

I'm 19, I really didn't do any college looking in high school. I was just going to go to Community College for 2 years, for radiology, then to a bigger Uni for 2 more and 2 more after that.

So here are my questions:

Do colleges look at any sort of transcripts? I attend high school probably 30% of the time, (due to illness), My first school I got C's and D's, My second High School I got A's.

I didn't take Algebra II, Just the first Algebra which I almost failed.

I took no languages, I dropped out of those.

I took no Chemistry classes, just basic science.

I always had fantastic scores in English and History.

^^Yet none of that would apply if I strictly want to learn Mandarin right?

If there is an aptitude test, that is different, other than low math scores, the rest is no problem. I'm an extremely smart person, I just was never taught math to how I process numbers.

It is late, some schools like BLCU say on there page they will not accept anymore Apps, but I called them and they said they would. When does Fall Semester start, if I miss the deadline for a good school, can I re apply for Jan Semester IF there is one?

I don't particularly care how 'good' the school is, Mandarin is mandarin, as long as I can get a X Visa so I can STAY here longer. I'm sick of flying to HK every 2 months. Plus I'm worried about the visa issues that are arising with the Sept 12th thing, or whatever it is.

So in short:

Need a college,

Needs to be able to give me 2 year degree,

Needs to give me X visa.

Would like to be located In Chaoyang area.

I live in Jiandemen now, probably will move back to Chaoyang. (Still on Line 10)

I don't care about the commute, but a closer college would be nice. I'll probably buy a bike and a motorcycle.

I'm thinking BLCU as that is what I looked into already, but for the life of me I can't find wether they give 2 year mandarin degrees. Their english site is confusing compares to the american college websites lol.

Price dosen't really matter, all in all it will be cheaper than America right?

Also China Communications University dosen't give 2 years, just certificates.

My end goal, if this all works out, is to simply stay in china after, and go for a 2 year degree in business. Either that or go to the US for a degree in Communications.

but I like china. Except for the laggy internet connections. Xbox Live is soo difficult.

[imron]

As far as I understand, a bachelor's degree in China requires a minimum of 4 years study. If you're looking for a 2-year degree program you're probably out of luck. In addition, in order to be admitted for a degree program, you usually need a minimum HSK score of 3-6 (depending on the university and the subject you wish to study).

Having a look at undergraduate programs available from Beijing University, they don't require you to take the HSK, but to enroll in a degree program (instead of say just taking undergrad subjects as a Chinese language student) you are required to take an entrance examination which will be in Chinese and covers topics such as Chinese language, English, Mathematics and Chinese History.

If you want a Chaoyang location, then really your only option is the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE). According to their brochure, the Conditions for Entering UIBE’s Bachelor Programs are:

Participants in “Preparatory Course” can move up to UIBE’s

Bachelor Programs automatically if they:

Observe school rules and regulations;

Have outstanding results in regular tests and exams in Spring

Semester.

Pass HSK test with level 6

So basically you need to do a year's preparatory class (although they have a 6 month intensive class if you prefer) before you can begin on a degree program.

For degree-granting courses, the situation is almost certain to be similar for any university. For example, BLCU states that in order to qualify for entry to its Chinese language BA program you need:

a) to be a senior high school graduate or with equivalent schooling in the age bracket of 18-50. And they should pass the corresponding entrance exam or oral exam and interview.

and then also:

All those applicants for Chinese Language and Chinese Language and Culture BA course should submit a photocopy of HSK (Elementary and Intermediary) HSK Band Three Certificate and above .Applicants with a certain knowledge of Chinese , but with no HSK certificate must take the HSK test held by BLCU before your study begins. And the Test Fee is 250 yuan RMB. And you have to provide 3 passport size photos when you apply. Once you acquire the HSK Band Three Certificate and above , you will be accepted as BA student of BLCU. If you fail to pass the HSK Band Three Certificate test, you can study the Chinese Language as language student at either the College of Advanced Chinese Training or the College of Intensive Chinese Language Studies for half a year. After you pass the the final exam with fair good results at the end of the half-a-year program , you can further your study at the Chinese Language College as a BA student exempt of any qualification examination .

In short, it seems it will be very difficult to find something that matches your requirements, and if you want a degree you are looking at a minimum of 4-5 years study depending on how good your Chinese is at the moment.

If you're planning on doing another 2-year degree in business here anyway, it might be worth first spending a year studying Chinese to allow you to qualify for a bachelor's program, and then doing a 4-year bachelor's in business.

[roddy]

The only way you're going to get a Bachelor's degree in two years is if you already have a decent HSK score (6, I think) and get admitted directly to the third year of a four-year program.

[Kingcodez]

Oh I get it, they simply don't have a 2 year chinese program?

(A 2 year degree is a bach right?)

My chinese is limited to ordering food and bargaining.

Basic stuff.

Wait I think the 2 year degree is an Associates. my bad.

I need an ASSOCIATES degree. 2 years.

I didn't mean get a 4 year in two.

If no colleges do Associates degrees, then what is my best option, should I take a certificate program and take the HSK? How does the HSK help me?

[Lu]

I seem to recall that at BLCU you can study for a BA in Chinese-for-foreigners. Takes four years, but you start at as low a level of Chinese as you need. I doubt that BA is any use though, it says you know Chinese, but an HSK certificate can say the same in less time.

[Kingcodez]

Could anyone recommend a good college then near liangmaqiao/chaoyang?

Do they give Student Visa's?

What are the limitations on those (like 90 day stay, multi entry, 12 month validity ect?)

[imron]

Did you read my post above, where I did give you a recommendation for a school in Chaoyang?

If you want a Chaoyang location, then really your only option is the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE[/url']).

Almost all other universities are located in Haidian.

Anyway, if you have a read of their site, you will find that yes, they offer student visas.

Once you have entered on a student visa, you have 30 days to convert it into a residence permit. The residence permit is usually valid for the length of your studies and allows for unlimited entries.

[Kingcodez]

lol I'm sorry, I totally skipped over it. I was distracted with BLCU.

I'll probably just go there then.

Now I have to make some phone calls hehe.

Once I get a student visa/res permit, what happens if I quit the school,

what if I would also join a different one?

[imron]

lol I'm sorry, I totally skipped over it. I was distracted with BLCU.

If you want your tuition fees refunded they'll probably require you to cancel your residence permit. If you just stop turning up to class, they may or may not care. It seems an expensive way to get a visa though.

[peekay]

To be an Officer in the USAF you must have a 4-year degree from a college or university recognized (accredited) in the U.S.

A 2-year associate degree from China isn't going to help you at all, since Chinese associate degrees are not recognized in the U.S. It's a "waste of time" from this perspective. When you return to the US, you'll basically have to start over again as a freshman and spend 4 more years in the US to get your bachelor's degree.

Depending on your situation -- and if you're serious about later becoming an Officer -- your best bet might be to go back to the US and enroll in a 4-year college / university program. After your freshman year, you can come to China to "study abroad" for a year, while earning college credits. Then return to the US to finish your degree while completing ROTC, or join the Air Force through OTS after you graduate.

You might want to talk to an AF recruiter about your options. The Air Force is by far the toughest service to get into, and becoming an Officer is a very competitive process. You'll have to make sure you join the right school (one that has an AF ROTC detachment), take the right classes, and get good grades.

The other route is to have fun in China for as long as you need to. Then join the USAF as a "regular" enlistee. Then try to finish a degree and apply to become an Officer.

One other thing to consider doing is to complete an Air Force medical exam (physical) as soon as you can. The AF is very strict about medical standards even for non-flying jobs (unlike some of the other services which routinely give out medical waivers.) It would suck to go through all the hassle just to find out you don't qualify medically.