United States of America
The fact that NCCU is known as the greatest social science university in Taiwan really encouraged me to apply.
Growing up with a Taiwanese friend down the street put questions like “What is Taiwan?” in my head early in life. That initial curiosity eventually merged with a love for China Studies that I developed during my undergraduate years. When it came time to pursue a graduate degree, the opportunity presented by the Taiwan Scholarship made it a no-brainer to come here. The most meaningful aspects of my experience have been the scholarship itself and the financial flexibility it has granted me, allowing me to travel and explore the region.
I chose National Chengchi University (NCCU) primarily for its reputation and its unique location. The fact that it is known as the greatest social science university in Taiwan really encouraged me to apply. Today, I can say I love the IMAS program and have zero regrets about my choice. The professors and leadership in the program genuinely care about the topics they teach as well as the students they lead. The quality of the English-taught curriculum is excellent, and nothing compares to being surrounded by people from all around the world in my classes.
My university is far more than what meets the eye. If I had to describe the campus, I’d call it quirky, tasty, and chill. It is quirky because it is built as a bunker practically on the side of a mountain, making the campus layout unlike any other. While it may appear at first glance that there isn’t much around in terms of food, it is actually quite tasty; within a short radius and down some local alleys, you can find a wide array of diverse options.
Coming from the US, I find Taipei can be a very loud, noisy, and crowded city. NCCU stays chill by being located outside of the downtown core at the bottom of the mountains, avoiding many of those urban stresses. I especially love the libraries here, which provide a perfect mixture of talking, quiet, public, and private spaces.
The university has provided resources that allowed me to bridge the gap between student life and professional work. Working as a content writer for the Office of International Cooperation (OIC) has allowed me to pursue a longtime goal of mine: writing professionally. On the career development side, I utilized the university’s coaching resources during my first semester. The most impactful experience was a one-on-one mock interview with a professional counselor who provided vital feedback on my resume.
I have also been able to participate in several exciting projects that have defined my time in Taiwan. Most notably, I’ve worked on my master’s thesis regarding cross-Strait relations, attended an academic conference on Kinmen, and was invited to the opening screening of the Taiwan International Human Rights Film Festival.
Learning Mandarin has been a significant part of my journey, though the most challenging aspect by far is listening. I already have some auditory processing issues, but having to adapt to understanding a tonal language is a whole new beast! Despite the difficulty, the university’s courses have been adequate, and the language teachers have all been incredibly kind and helpful.
Some of my favorite memories come from the hands-on aspects of my language studies. During my Chinese class, we had the opportunity to visit the nearby area of Shenkeng to make tofu in the traditional way. I loved seeing how such a common food—one that is mostly unutilized in my home country—was made from scratch.
I am very open in terms of my post-graduation plans. I would love to stay in Taiwan if the opportunity presented itself, and even if I return to the US after graduation, I may still return here in the future. Ultimately, studying in Taiwan has only further solidified my desire to continue working with Asia, wherever I end up.
