Chinese Language Program @Tsinghua University (February 2012)

[Brian Lau]

Hi everyone,

I was admitted into the CLP starting February 2012 and I thought it would be great to start a discussion so we can help each other out by answering questions and sorts.

First off, has anyone gotten their admission package yet?

[歐博思]

I didn't get my admission packet last year until late mid to late January . I think they simultaneously send packets out to all the accepted students, but I am not certain.

It was really a fun experience for me when I was there, one I will remember for a lifetime. Shoot me a message if you have any questions about the program or 清华, or I will reply here as best I can.

[Brian Lau]

I think late January might be a bit too late. I was told dorm registration opens up on January 13th, so hopefully we can get that packet before then.

Did you stay in the dorms? Which would you recommend?

[歐博思]

I stayed in 紫荆 (zijing) #23 which is the closest dorm to the North-East Gate. Living on campus, international students can only choose to live in one of the Zijing apartments with choice of: double room (what I did), AB room with roommate, or single room. I can actually speak for all three.

Double room:

The double rooms in Zijing are not too shabby really. Firstly, you get to make a new friend easily and right off the bat. Fellow students come from all over and personally I had a very friendly Korean fellow as roommate.

Moving along, my home campus in the USA is one of the top wireless campuses in the US so having to use wired internet is relative inconvenience.

Next, the rooms are pretty clean. This is because the service ladies incessantly clean your room every 2-3 days even 9 am on Saturdays sometimes. This is a feature of all the Zijing dorms so don't let it affect your choice, and it is both a blessing (clean) and a curse (often come at the most embarrassing inappropriate times).

Next, the showers. It is true that the hot water times are limited in all of the dorms. In my dorm #23 it was always toasty warm during said times. It was working 99% of the time save a few times of maintenance where one is directed next door to one building #22 's single room showers.

Lastly, location. #23 is the farthest building from the nearby dining halls (excluding the ones between 19-20 mentioned below). It is not a drastic difference regardless as I could walk to the C Building (class) in 5-6 minutes anyway, and some of the common dining halls are just a quick jig from the C building. Side note: there is a pretty decent little dining hall down between 19-20 ish Zijing dorms, along with a buffet above said dining hall and also a little cafe upstairs as well. If anything the convenience of these restaurants would be the only thing in terms of food to sway my decision about which Zijing to live in, but I believe those dorms around that area are AB / single dorms thus price is to be considered as well.

Oh, and also there is only one washing machine per floor, but you can use the washing machines on other floors too. In addition there is no drier. I can't speak for other housing types because I never saw those dorms particular facilities.

AB with roommate:

A friend lived in one of these. There is a foyer that one first walks into that has the bathroom on one side and the kitchen on the other side. The kitchen doesn't come with a microwave or fridge or anything though... all you really get is a sink and some counter space. You really could do the same things in a standard double just about (also there are kitchens at the ends of each floor if you have a standard doubles anyway).

Besides this, the bedrooms in AB are private. This is nice when you want some quiet private study time. Since I was a guest visiting my friends room, we always had to leave at 11 (12? can't remember) and the fuwuyuan's would call your room to ensure that you leave! It was pretty annoying really, but probably the main beef I had with living in the dorms. But like I said, they are all this way and you'd have to live off campus to have it otherwise. Keep in mind: dorms containing the AB units are a bit closer to some of the dining halls.

Single:

During maintenance on our shower plumbing we had to go next door for a couple days. We ended up taking showers in that buildings single rooms so here is a quick bit I noticed from that. Firstly, these rooms are very similar to the individual bedrooms in the AB configuration perhaps a teeny bit smaller. Private shower. Sink in the room. That's all I gleamed from this room.

Conclusion:

Really they are all quite similar. The only differences really worth noting are the eateries located between 19-20 (approximate location. There should be a map in your packet when you receive it) , the price of the dorms, and whether you want a roommate.

Fun side note:

some dorms have a clothes drying scaffolding outside your window. Because the Beijing wind is sometimes strong I was reluctant to put clothes out there, but you can tape a bag out there and keep your beers cold for the first few monthes.

[Brian Lau]

Wow, thanks for all the helpful details. You've really gone out of your way by doing this. That's really strange how there's no drying machine, I've never done laundry without it. Also for the internet, can't you buy a router to transmit the wireless signal? How long were you in at Tsinghua?

[歐博思]

I was there for one semester only, so it is very possible I missed many things

I picked up a wireless network on my laptop, and when I passed by one of my neighbors open doors one day, there indeed was a router that I'm sure was being used to share the unlimited internet package with who knows how many people. Now, without a router their method is more difficult because only one computer can sign into a username at one time (my girlfriend and I just set up an ad-hoc network between our computers, but this is just limited to the range of about one room). With the router I'm sure many more things are possible, and if not, well it is Qinghua，surely someone can figure it out

[Brian Lau]

Hi again, I was wondering what the process is like for checking into a dormitory. My email says if we check in within 7 days, we can get a favorable price, but there is no guarantee of a spot. So would it be wise for an international student to risk going early, even if they don't have a guarantee of vacancy if you arrive early for the favorable price?

[mwsteele89]

Hey Brian,

I will be attending the same semester as you. But I will be living in an apartment. I'm not actually going to be at my address to get my admission package. So I will be picking it up from the University.

If your room reservation is successful, you need to check in within the required date. Three-day late will lead to the cancellation of your room reservation, and the deposit will not be returned to you. You may check in within seven days before the registration date at the favorable price. If you want to check in 7 days earlier than the registration date, it’s not guarantee that there is a vacancy for you, and you have to pay normal price.

I think what it means is that as long as you check in at least 7 days before the registration date, then you will get the favorable price. If you check in say 4 days before registration you will have to pay the normal price.

[pipevama]

Hey! I'm going to Tsinghua for the language program as well, I was wondering, should I buy a computer a computer with english keyboard or should I wait and buy one with a Chinese keyboard? what do you recommend.

The dormitories I'm a bit troubled as well, but i have just decided that its not worth risking paying extra, and besides the Foreing Student Affairs Office returns from vacation on feb 12.

[mwsteele89]

I would buy one with an English keyboard. Most Chinese use English keyboards now and then just use Pinyin to type. It's really easy.

[Chao Li Chen]

Hi everyone! I will also be attending the CLP at Tsinghua University starting in February 2012. Still waiting for my admission package too.

If your room reservation is successful, you need to check in within the required date. Three-day late will lead to the cancellation of your room reservation, and the deposit will not be returned to you. You may check in within seven days before the registration date at the favorable price. If you want to check in 7 days earlier than the registration date, it’s not guarantee that there is a vacancy for you, and you have to pay normal price.

I think what it means is that as long as you check in at least 7 days before the registration date, then you will get the favorable price. If you check in say 4 days before registration you will have to pay the normal price.

This is confusing, since I thought they were saying the exact opposite:

Registration date: February 13-15

Favorable price: February 6-13 (or maybe February 8-15?) // within 7 days before the registration date

Normal price: all dates before February 6 // 7 days earlier than the registration date, and there's no available room guaranteed

I also think that the favorable price and normal price mentioned here only refer to the days you stay in a dormitory room before the date a room was actually assigned to you. Say a room was assigned to you starting on February 13. If you would arrive on February 9 (4 days early), your room will be available to you for the favorable price. If you would arrive on February 3 (10 days early), there's no guarantee you will have a dormitory room and even if there is one available, you'll be charged the normal price. This is how I interpret the explanation though.

From February 13 onwards, I assume you will pay the favorable price since those are also the prices given on http://intlstudent.c...troduction.html (chapter 10).

We're also supposed to make a deposit for the dormitory reservation (RMB 500, plus commission fee) and they suggest to keep our bank card ready. Does anyone know whether this means that we can pay by internet banking? Since this option was not available when paying the application fee as far as I know.

[mwsteele89]

Yeah, I think you're right there. I just misread it.

[Dewi Tjitra Salim]

Hi,

I was admitted for the Feb'12 class too...May I know if anyone try to access the http://www.thutraining.com?? I try to access it but it doesn't seem to load properly. Do we need to wait til Jan 12 for it to load properly??

Btw I just received my admission package 2 days ago

[Chao Li Chen]

Hi,

I was admitted for the Feb'12 class too...May I know if anyone try to access the http://www.thutraining.com?? I try to access it but it doesn't seem to load properly. Do we need to wait til Jan 12 for it to load properly??

Btw I just received my admission package 2 days ago

This site doesn't load properly for me either. I have already emailed them about this issue, but I haven't received a response yet.

What country are you from? I'm from the Netherlands and I still haven't received my admission package.

[wutwut]

Hi! I've been here for one semester now and will stay for next one as well if not longer.

I used to live in an AB room but now live in a single room (same price per month).

One thing to consider about the double room is that you share toilet and shower with everyone.

In the AB room you only have to share with your "roommate", in the single room you have your own.

Also, the AB rooms do have microwaves nowadays, however the single rooms do not have microwaves.

Before I changed to the single rooms (in the middle of the semester) I got to check several rooms before I decided to move into the one I'm living in now. This one had cleaner walls and a nicer toilet, so if you move in and later want to move to another type of room ask if you can check in all the ones available first.

AB room and single room costs 2400 for one month but if you find som friends you can share a flat outside for less than 2400. I have friends living in really good-looking places where they have their own bedroom and where they also have access to a kitchen (etc) for around 2000 a month. Also have a friend living only 10 minutes away on bike from school (the C-building) in a nice flat together with some friends, cheaper than the small room on campus.

[Dewi Tjitra Salim]

This site doesn't load properly for me either. I have already emailed them about this issue, but I haven't received a response yet.

What country are you from? I'm from the Netherlands and I still haven't received my admission package.

I'm from Singapore. My friend say the site will only load on Jan 12, so I guess we have no choice but to wait.

[wchang]

Hello,

I am also attending Tsinghua's CLP in the spring. I am really nervous about not getting a dorm room. Does anyone know if it's really hard to find a place off campus? Also, I haven't received my package yet either so I don't really know what to expect. Is anyone planning on living off campus? If so, where?

[aim]

Hello,

I'm from Thailand. Just to let you guys know that the reservation site is now live (a bit early than expected)! To book a room, you need to log in to the site using your student no (which can be found on your on-line application system) and birth date (e.g. 1990-Jan-01).

See you guys in class!

[y.kwok]

Hey to all !!

Thanks for the info Aim and especially for the date format which I couldn't guess !! They should have given an example.

Anyway see you all later I guess

[Minami]

Hi everyone.

I just booked a single room. You have to pay a deposit for the reservation that is over 500RMB. Didn't expext that.