University: California State University Fullerton
City: Fullerton
Country: United States
Continent: North America
Field of study: tourism management
Study type: semester abroad
Well, I’ve been back in Germany for more than a month now and would like to report on my semester abroad in the USA.
The preparation
Thanks to MicroEdu, the application and admissions process to CSUF was easy. The application for the visa was actively supported and everything went like clockwork! See ehuacom for CSUSM Study Abroad.
MicroEdu was also always there for questions, so that no questions were ever left unanswered. Even if everything is going smoothly, it is advisable to plan your semester abroad in good time.
I would also recommend arriving at least 2 weeks before the start of your studies so that you can explore the area and familiarize yourself with everything before the lectures begin.
I already took care of accommodation before arriving in the USA. The site craigslist.org is really recommended here. You will not only find apartments and shared flats there, but also furniture and everything you can imagine.
I stayed in an apartment in the Nutwood East Apartments. This is a fairly standard OC condominium complex with communal laundry and communal pool. The apartment cost $1200. Since I shared it with an American woman, the price was really reasonable for local standards, since each of us had our own room. The location was just great: right across from CSUF and only 2 minutes walk to some stores like CVS, Smart & Final, Starbucks, Chipotle, KFC, Del Taco, Dollar Tree, 99 Cent Store, Big Lots, other restaurants, hair salons and beauty salons. It is also only 100 meters to the bus stop and from there you can take the bus to the Brea Mall in 5 minutes.
Courses
I have to say that I had absolutely no problems getting into the courses I wanted. In the beginning I only had 1 of the courses I wanted in advance but it was no problem to “crash” the other 3 courses. Just go into the courses and talk to the professor before the lecture begins. If the course is towards the end of the week or you would like to change a course after a week, you can simply send the professor an email get the course.
Otherwise, I really only had great experiences with the professors. They are always helpful and open to questions. Otherwise, I was almost always enthusiastic about the courses, since many professors really go to work with a lot of commitment.
I also took an online course. I was a bit skeptical at first, but it was really a great experience. Midterm exam and final exam were both at the university, otherwise the course took place via an online platform. Each week there was a topic for discussion, appropriate to the chapter in the book, for which you then had to submit a short essay, which was then evaluated within a few days. In the end, the overall grade was made up of a large number of individual achievements, which I personally found better than is often the case here in Germany when you only take one exam per semester. In addition, you can organize your time really well yourself.
Life
What can I say about living in OC?! It was gigantic!! Just great!! The weather was sunny and warm almost most of the time and there are so many things to do that half a year can almost be too little time! Disneyland, Newport Beach, San Diego, San Francisco, Hollywood, Las Vegas…oh, there’s just so much to do and see around Fullerton.
I didn’t have a car, I didn’t really miss one either, because I went shopping with my roommate and otherwise the bus connection is really good.
The nightlife in OC is also really great and there are some clubs that you really should try, eg. Club Heat, 8 80 8, or the Ember.
I have to say I really enjoyed it there! And since I had all my lectures on Mondays and Tuesdays, I was able to really enjoy “life” a lot.
University
The university is just great. The buildings are divided more or less according to disciplines, so that you mainly have lectures in the same buildings. The area is dominated by many green areas and tall old trees. There is a library where you can also print out all your stuff. There is also a Health Care Center right on campus. There you can not only get treatment for minor and major ailments, but also, and I thought that was really great, you can also use a chiropractor for $5 per session. That was really great and really helped with tension.
But I really fell in love with the gym. A new really nice 2 storey building with outdoor pool and indoor running track. There are also indoor basketball and volleyball courts as well as the usual fitness equipment. The courses are also really recommendable, there is something for every taste and it’s really fun. Membership costs only $25 per month.
Conclusion
My time at CSUF was simply unforgettable! It was the best decision to spend a semester there and not only did I really improve my English, I also made a lot of friends and spent a fantastic six months.
Even if a semester abroad is a bit more expensive than the semester “at home”, it is definitely an incredibly great experience that is definitely worth it.
I really recommend everyone to embark on the “semester abroad” adventure!