I can't believe I leave in a week! The process to actually be able to get to Hong Kong University has been a long one. It all began nearly 6 months ago, when I applied to MIX to participate in a student exchange. It wasn't necessarily smooth sailing from there - I had less than a month to finish my HKU application since it was emailed late. Luckily, the HKU application is fairly simple. All you have to do is fill out some information about yourself and write one personal statement! They also give you the option to send all of your visa application materials to them to have them assist you with applying for a visa. While it costs an additional fee, it's much easier than trying to do it all alone. One thing I definitely recommend is to get started on your visa application before you get the HKU application, as you can send it in to HKU once you get your application and can have their staff check your materials right away. The most difficult part of the journey was when I found out that I did not get a place in student housing. If you end up in the same position as I did, you'll see something like below. It was really difficult to find housing close to campus. Many apartments were tiny, or very expensive. Most of the places near campus also filled up very quickly - the places I contacted from iMap, the school's private site to where housing owners will post room rentals, were already full by the time that I found out that I did not receive housing. The most common option that I've seen students utilize are hostels and Airbnbs. My uncle in Hong Kong ended up finding a hostel very close to campus, and was able to snag me a spot since he knew the organization who owned it. Finding a roommate was much easier than finding a room. I followed the recommendation of a previous scholar who went to HKU and joined the student Facebook page. It won't be created until the middle of summer for the school year, so if you're going in the Fall don't expect to find the page for your yea right when you apply.
One recommendation I got from someone who worked for HKU's housing company was to study abroad in the Spring, as they often have more housing available then since less students study abroad during that semester. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to HKU's housing email for help with finding housing! They sent me really helpful lists of hostels and also were able to let me know where my place on the waiting list was and the likelihood of this leading to a housing offer. I ended up being offered a place at a school rented apartment at the end of July, so that's something to keep in mind if your waiting list number is low. My number was in the mid-30's. I will be staying at the Caritas Hostel in Kennedy Town, an all-female hostel, sharing a room with a girl from France. Next step: Packing!
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Emily BallBorn and raised in Aiea, HI, traveling to Hong Kong to study Human Resource Administration. ArchivesCategories |