University: California State University Fullerton
Country: United States
Continent: North America
Field of study: business administration
Study type: semester abroad
Organization and cooperation with MicroEdu
After my university did not accept me for a semester abroad, I was very happy to have the opportunity to go with the help of MicroEdu. The website really appealed to me from the start because everything was presented very clearly and I found a university that appealed to me very easily. However, after it turned out that the university I had initially chosen did not offer any suitable courses for my degree, I used MicroEdu to find another university: California State University Fullerton. This university offers a wide variety of courses and I was able to find courses that I could get credit for in Germany very quickly and easily. Before I dealt with the topic of a semester abroad in more detail, I was always put off because everyone heard that there was a lot to organize. With the support of MicroEdu, however, the organization was easy and uncomplicated. If I had any questions, I could always contact the staff both by email and by phone and received answers very quickly. See existingcountries for San Diego State University Review 2.
Apartment Search
Before I started my semester abroad, I didn’t have an apartment. I wanted to look for them on site first so that I could get a better picture of them and get to know the people I was moving in with beforehand. Instead, I booked an AirBnb for a week in advance. The Facebook page “CSUF roommate needed database” was very helpful when looking for an apartment. Both offers and search ads are placed there. In the end I found a place in the UCA’s. The UCA is directly opposite the university, has a pool, a jacuzzi and a gym.There I shared an apartment with two other girls, I even shared a room with one of them. In hindsight I would do it again. At first I was worried that I wouldn’t find an apartment at all, but it was very easy via the Facebook page and you can move into an apartment within a day. In addition, as an international student, it is relatively easy for you in the dormitories, since you already had to bring financial proof for the university and the staff in the dormitories know about it. So you don’t have to bring proof of income etc. like the locals do.
Shopping
I always went shopping at a supermarket called Smart & Final, which was just around the corner. Since I didn’t have a car, it was very convenient. The supermarket itself was very expensive. However, there were “weekly specials” which often made good bargains possible. When I went shopping, I would Uber to Brea Mall, which is about a seven-minute drive. Also in Fullerton Downtown are a few small shops and restaurants to visit.
Course choice
Luckily, choosing the course was n’t a big problem for me. At the beginning I looked for courses that could fit my courses in Germany and then, when I asked MicroEdu, I was sent the course descriptions that I could submit to my university. Except for one course, I got all my courses immediately at the time I wanted. In the fourth course I had to do the class crashing. However, the professors are all very cooperative and try to accept you into the course if you ask nicely. I took the following courses: FIN 340, AMST 301, POSC 421 and ACCT 302. The courses were all very interesting and I was able to achieve very good grades for the most part.In all courses I should buy a lot of books. But since the books were very expensive, I only bought the ones that were required to attend class or that I needed to do my homework. I ordered the rest from the Pollak Library at the university before the exams. If you’re quick in the first week, you can also buy or rent the books used from the Titan Book Store, which can save you a lot of money.
Leisure activities and travel
Sports clubs or other clubs that are offered at the university are a very good way to get to know locals. In addition, the Adventure Club or the Travel Association, for example, open up the possibility of travelling. It was a very good opportunity for me, because I didn’t have a car and these clubs gave me mobility. In the clubs you pay a small fee at the beginning and can then take part in all activities. Another option for people like me who don’t have a car are buses or trains. For example, I took a Greyhound bus to San Francisco. If you book early enough, you can get a relatively cheap ticket. To go to Los Angeles I used Uber to get there if there were other passengers. So you could share the fare. On my own, I took the train, which costs about $15 each way and departs downtown. At the university there were often basketball games at the weekend, which you could watch for free with your student ID and cheer on as a fan. Very often there was free t-shirts, pizza etc. Definitely worth a visit.
Final word
These six months at CSUF were a great experience for me and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would also go abroad again at any time via MicroEdu. The organization was wonderful and smooth. You get help before, during and after. The employees have always been very nice and patient. At this point, a big thank you to everyone who helped me organize my stay.