University: University of California San Diego
City: San Diego
Country: United States
Continent: North America
Field of study: English / American Studies
Study type: semester abroad
Application and preparation:
The application process via MicroEdu is very simple and works smoothly. It is advisable to apply as early as possible so that you do not get stressed about the visa application and the other preparations that the UCSD requires. See liuxers for BU Study Abroad.
You need a form from your bank that confirms that you have a certain amount of assets. Since this form has to be filled out in English, it can be difficult to get it filled out at the bank. In addition, the university requires health insurance (from the Hanse-Merkur insurance, for example, much cheaper than directly from the university!) and a certificate that you do not have tuberculosis. You don’t need to go to the doctor here if you can answer all the questions in the negative. However, if you have already traveled to Africa or Eastern Europe, for example, you must have a doctor fill out the form (also in English, which is problematic). These organizational things take a lot of time!
All information for the visa is compiled on the website of the American Consulate General. It is important that you plan for the queues at the entrance for your appointment and that you bring all documents (including an envelope with postage) with you and that you have already made all the transfers. Otherwise you will be sent away immediately.
Unfortunately, accommodation in San Diego is very expensive. I stayed at Costa Verde Village through anatolia housing. From there it is not far to a shuttle stop of a university bus, which UCSD students can use free of charge. The shuttle runs about every 5-10 minutes and takes about 10 minutes to get to the university. Unfortunately, living in the Costa Verde Village is not exactly cheap, but a lot of UCSD exchange students live there and it is easy to meet nice people. I shared a room with a Chinese woman and we got along great. Unfortunately, very chaotic and inconsiderate Brazilian women lived in the other room, who got the neighbors to call the police with a party (there is a request to reduce the volume after 10pm in the whole building). So we all got a warning. However, not everyone has to have such bad luck with their roommates! The organization via “anatolia housing” is simple and works uncomplicated and problem-free! The apartments at Costa Verde Village include washer, dryer, dishwasher and shared pool, jacuzzi and even a super fitness center with instructor-led classes and lots of equipment! All free of charge for residents, of course. Unfortunately, many apartments have an ant problem. But the exterminator came to many immediately and after that it was done. “Anatolia housing” takes care of all problems immediately. The organization via “anatolia housing” is simple and works uncomplicated and problem-free! The apartments at Costa Verde Village include washer, dryer, dishwasher and shared pool, jacuzzi and even a super fitness center with instructor-led classes and lots of equipment! All free of charge for residents, of course. Unfortunately, many apartments have an ant problem. But the exterminator came to many immediately and after that it was done. “Anatolia housing” takes care of all problems immediately. The organization via “anatolia housing” is simple and works uncomplicated and problem-free! The apartments at Costa Verde Village include washer, dryer, dishwasher and shared pool, jacuzzi and even a super fitness center with instructor-led classes and lots of equipment! All free of charge for residents, of course. Unfortunately, many apartments have an ant problem. But the exterminator came to many immediately and after that it was done. “Anatolia housing” takes care of all problems immediately. But the exterminator came to many immediately and after that it was done. “Anatolia housing” takes care of all problems immediately. But the exterminator came to many immediately and after that it was done. “Anatolia housing” takes care of all problems immediately.
Without a car it is quite difficult in San Diego. Of course you can get to the university by bike, but that’s also great with the shuttle (parking lots at the university are very expensive and almost always occupied). For everything else, such as the beach, downtown, nearby state parks or other interesting sights in and around San Diego, you need a car. Although the buses are inexpensive, they run on irregular schedules and very infrequently. In addition, they take a long time. I rented a car from Dirt Cheap Carrental. You don’t have to reserve it in advance and they even pick you up from your home. They are very flexible and cooperative. 2 drivers can always be insured at no extra charge, so it makes sense to share the car with someone else. It’s best to ask in advance via the contact list, which you get from MicroEdu if anyone would like to rent a car! The insurance only applies to San Diego County, but the area is very large!
Arriving and choosing courses at UCSD:
Upon arrival at UCSD, an Orientation Week was offered. Unfortunately, since the administration works via the “Extension” (a kind of extension of the university where working people can take evening courses), this “Orientation Week” was more geared towards people who are doing a language course at the university and only for the UPS people partly interesting. I got the impression that Megan, the contact person at the “Extension”, was very nice but unfortunately didn’t have a lot of knowledge about the problems of the UPS people. For example, I did an additional language course at the extension, for which I paid around $275 online. Megan previously told me it would cost over $1000. I only had problems at the university because UPS people are managed via the “extension”. For example, it is not possible to use all the resources of the library printing costs much more than for normally enrolled students and many e-mails from the professors were not delivered. The reason is very simple: We don’t get a UCSD email account.
Course selection at UCSD is insanely complicated. You get a form that you have to go to every professor with and have it signed. You can only do 12 units (usually 3 modules). There were no other exchange students in my courses and the professors had never seen this form. That made it easier to get a place on the course. Although all other students have priority in choosing courses because they can enroll online, my professors all accepted me. Even if the courses had admission requirements, they were not interested in them. But I heard from other courses that many were not accepted. In the Literature Department and in the Ethnic Studies Department it’s no problem at all!
The courses:
The courses usually take place Mon/Wed/Fri or Tue/Thurs. Even with only 3 modules you have a pretty full week! Oral participation is very important and accounts for around 20% in most courses. Doing homework is also important. For example, I had to write a total of 8 papers and 3 exams. It is best to do a lot in the first few weeks, because towards the end it can get very stressful. The level of my modules was rather lower than in Germany and it was easy to get good grades. Although the demands seemed almost inhuman at first, it turned out that it wasn’t all that bad. It is important to go to the professors’ office hours. The relationship between the lecturers and the students is much closer than in Germany and I always received an immediate reply to my e-mails.
Conclusion:
The stay at UCSD was very interesting and I made many new experiences. Unfortunately, the tuition fees are very high and living in San Diego is also expensive. However, it is possible to find a job at the university (you cannot work anywhere else with the visa). Administration via the “extension” is very disadvantageous (but UCSD is probably not a special case here, that will be the case at all American universities), but my modules were very exciting and I really learned a lot. Traveling in and around California is great! So definitely come a little earlier or stay longer! Before the start of the program and after the end of the program you do not have to go to the university (unlike in Germany). the many possibilities
If you have the opportunity to finance a semester abroad in the USA, then I recommend UCSD!