University: San Diego State University
City: San Diego
Country: United States
Continent: North America
Field of study: Business Administration, Economics
Study type: semester abroad
A semester abroad has always been included in my study plans. On the one hand to “just get out” and to experience something new and on the other hand because a stay abroad is probably useful in terms of job opportunities. See existingcountries for where to study Buenos Aires or Santiago.
University, study content, study conditions:
Arriving at the university for the first time, one is amazed. It’s just like you would imagine a Californian university – spacious campus, palm trees instead of fir trees, sports fields, large library, food corners instead of a huge canteen. It all looks very nice.
One is a bit negatively surprised when one enters a lecture hall for the first time. State-of-the-art classrooms are out of the question. School-like conditions prevail. Everyone has a small table integrated into their individual seat and, together with the other 20 students, watches the professor scribbling on the blackboard or, of course, during his PowerPoint presentation.
The course content (I can only refer to business subjects) corresponds in principle to that in Germany. However, you have to take care of your subjects early enough, i.e. it has to be clarified early enough which subjects may be credited at the home university. Because you don’t have much time once the university has started – which brings us to the big problem: “crashing”. In the first two to three weeks you can run to several lectures and ask the professor to take you on the course. If the course is already full, you’re out of luck – and the foreign students are at the end of the chain.
Once you’ve gotten over the initial stress, it’s going to be fun. Sure, you have to study in the USA too. But the school-like examination procedure (an exam every now and then) makes it easy to stay on the ball.
There’s not much to say about that, except: awesome! At first, I have to admit, I didn’t find much out of the ordinary about the city. But once you get to know them and understand the vastness, then it’s just fun. Get up in the morning and drive to the beach, rent a surfboard or play football with friends on the beach. Then something to eat, enjoy the sun, the relaxed attitude to life…
In addition to the typical lifestyle on the beach, there is also a nice evening program;-) Either you are a little more chic downtown or a little more casual in Pacific Beach (“PB”). This is also at its finest!
Again and again one has to mention the weather, which simply makes its contribution. Consistently (apart from a few cloudy days or two rainy days) sunshine and a pleasant temperature. It doesn’t get any better…
Costs:
Unfortunately, the costs should not be underestimated. You are 100% dependent on a car, buses and trains (apart from the trolley) are non-existent here. You MUST take that into account in any case, because the distances are simply too far. Sharing a car could help.
Accommodation isn’t cheap either. I was in a flat share. I hear the Piedra del Sol apartments are pretty good though.