I am thinking about applying to IUP Tsinghua, but I have a few questons:

1) Will I be fluent in spoken Mandarin once I'm finished?
2) For anyone who has taken the entrance exam: is it difficult?  How hard is the writing part?
3) What is the teaching methodology?
4) What are the living conditions like?

Looking around on the internet (on forums and such) I get the impression that the program is mainly focused on reading and writing. However, their website says writing is the least emphasized of the entry requirements.  So I'm not sure what to think really. 

Anyway any answers people can provide will be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!