Name
Stanley Seiden
Program
HNC Certificate '11/SAIS MA '13 Five-Semester Option
Hometown
Weyland, MA
Undergraduate school and major
Yale, Economics
Activities at the HNC
Jessup International Moot Court, Student Business Exchange, HNC Coffee Shop, Dragon Boat Team, Jiu Jitsu, Gourmet Club.
What is the most important thing you took away from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center?
A sense that I know now how to integrate myself into a group of students whose native language is so different from my own. I restrict our differences to language because one of the most important parts of this revelation has been the realization that, in the end, we're all just young adults with many of the same opinions, behaviors and peculiarities. But I went from awkward small talk with my roommate to having strong connections with dozens of my Chinese classmates at the Center, and it's a great feeling.
Do you have any advice for students admitted to the HNC?
HNC is not like any other graduate program you will do. Every graduate program will tell you that about themselves, but those other programs are probably not in China. Make sure that your interest in China plays a large role in your deciding to apply or attend, because it will without a doubt play a large role in your experience at HNC. Similarly, if you join the ranks of HNC next fall, make sure that you're taking advantage of what the Center has and is; eat meals with your Chinese classmates, go explore Nanjing once a week, buy clothes at the Chinese markets and eat at every restaurant in the nearby alleys.
