Student Stories

From West Point to the Hopkins-Nanjing Center

The military forced me to critically reflect on what I really want to achieve and what impact I want to have on others, which led me to SAIS.

A Natural Progression

I was actively seeking out graduate programs with opportunities to go to China, as well as opportunities where I could develop my skills in economics and international relations...I knew I had to give my all for the opportunity to study at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center.

Adjusting to Thinking in Mandarin

The MAIS program is great for improving academic Chinese in reading and speaking, and it also provides an opportunity to dive deeper into topics of interest with a thesis.

Understanding the Nuances in International Relations

I chose the Hopkins-Nanjing Center because I wanted to deepen my understanding of global affairs from a Sino-American perspective...The HNC's academic excellence and its focus on fostering U.S.-China relations perfectly align with my career aspirations.

The HNC Community is Like Family

The Hopkins-Nanjing Center provides a great learning environment to be exposed to different cultures and have an opportunity to study with students and teachers from all over the world.

Nanjing Feels Like a Second Home

No longer am I learning the Chinese language in the classroom, but I’m in the classroom learning about China in Chinese.

There’s Something that Only the HNC Offers

When I first applied to the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, I thought I would just be taking classes in Chinese, but they offer so much more. Having a place where activities are happening all the time and creating meaningful relationships with students and faculty is something that you might not always find easily in other programs.

Transforming Your Perspective

By the end of my program, I will be able to look at issues from a more open-minded perspective due to this constant interaction with people and readings that have a different perspective than my own.

Take Advantage of Every Opportunity

The additional opportunity that the Hopkins-Nanjing Center provided was hard to pass up. It allows me to continue my language study through my international relations coursework, gain a deep insight into how Chinese government and society operates, and take part in an amazing graduate school program.

Working in the China-Africa Space

In the next year I see myself completing my national service for Ghana, and going into the private sphere. I also see myself working closely in the China-Africa space, perhaps with Chinese enterprises on the continent, or in some sort of China Africa field.