Ellen Chan

I'm Ellen Chan, majoring in biology, minoring in Chinese and anthropology, and graduating in 2026. I studied abroad during the winter 2026 via the CET Beijing January term program, specifically at the host school of Capital Normal University.  

The program was dedicated to intensive Mandarin Chinese immersion, so my Mandarin fluency skyrocketed. And since the program offered sponsored trips, I folded traditional dumplings on New Year's Day, scaled the Great Wall, and picked strawberries at a nearby village. Outside of class, I bonded with my cohort by belting it out at KTV, strolling through night markets, and trying out weird Domino's pizza flavors. Although I was abroad for only four weeks, studying abroad in Beijing easily became one of my top three undergraduate experiences.  

As for post-graduation plans, I will achieve my masters in education here at UMass Amherst, then dive into teaching high school biology as a career. In addition, I'm currently considering the pursuit of the Soros Fellowship and Fulbright Scholarship.