Is study-abroad the next step? Where?

[aznriceboi]

Hey everyone, I'm currently a college student who's looking to study Chinese in China for a semester (probably not this year, but fall of next year), and was looking for some advice on the merits of the different options available.

I've been browsing through the forums and the programs I see listed most often are: ACC, IUP, CET (in Harbin and Beijing), and then the programs at Beida, Tsinghua, BLCU, BNU.

For an ABC who just completed 3rd year Chinese at his college, and just came back from 4th year Chinese at Princeton in Beijing, are there any special considerations I should be making when choosing which program to apply to? I've looked at my college's study abroad packet, and I noticed that only ACC, IUP, and CET are among the list of approved programs; also, these are the same programs that I see approved for Yale's Light Fellowship. But does that necessarily mean that these programs are better for most people?

This is still a ways off in the future for me, but I think that at some point after graduation, I'd like to live and work in China for a few years. But when I say work, I don't mean teaching English, but probably something more along the lines of working with an American company in China, or any place where my knowledge of English would be a substantial asset, but where I'd also have to use level just as much, if not more. Right now I don't think my Chinese is at that level, which is why I'm looking to study abroad. But is this even the right step? Is it sufficient? I can't really tell just how far one's Chinese can improve from these programs, and if the level of Chinese required in the workplace is something that isn't covered in these language programs.

Thanks for all input!

[cui ruide]

There was recently an article in the NYTimes about young Americans coming to China to find jobs... From what I gather it received quite a rebuttal, including this one which may respond to your aspiration to work in China:

http://www.forbes.com/2009/08/13/china-jobs-employment-leadership-careers-work.html

As a recent grad, I can tell you (just like the article above) there are plenty of ways to come and live in China after graduation and make money/get by, but I don't how many of them are jobs with American companies where you're just needed for your English.

[aznriceboi]

Oops, sorry for the confusion, I didn't type a sentence properly. The jobs I'm thinking of looking for (at least right at this moment, I still have several years) are ones where knowing English would be a significant asset, but where I'd have to use Chinese just as often.