Five Things You Will Love & Hate As An Exchange Student in the USA
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about being a foreign exchange student in the United States. I have studied and taught classes abroad, and as a professor, I have had many exchange students who come to study in the USA. As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to share both the positives and the negatives of travel, whether it’s short-term or long-term. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate about being a foreign exchange student in the United States.
Hate #1: Lots of Schoolwork
The U.S. educational system requires a lot of homework, projects, group projects, and exams. My class has three exams during the semester, plus multiple projects and external projects with businesses. When I studied in Germany, as long as you passed the exam at the end of the semester, you were good. We didn’t have ongoing projects throughout the semester. Also, many places will give the exchange students more leniency
Love #1: The US College Experience
The college experience in the United States is totally unique. It’s always such a fun atmosphere, with parties and football games and tons of fun. School spirit is so big at many universities and it can be fun to join in and be part of such a huge enthusiastic community. There are also tons of organizations within the university that you can join. From hobby clubs to fraternities and sororities, it’s pretty easy to find like-minded students to hang out with.
Hate #2: University Towns
In the United States, many of the largest universities are located in small towns and cities. Major cities will often have smaller universities, but the big state schools are usually in much smaller towns. This often means the entire town revolves around the university, which can be fun, but if you’re expecting a big-city experience, you better do your research before choosing a university.
Love #2: US Culture
When you study with Americans, you get an insider view of the culture here. You’ll be studying with future leaders of America, which will help you understand American politics and business sectors much better. The experience of living abroad can really help you excel in your studies and your career path.
Hate #3: Working With US Students
University students in the United States are pretty friendly and will want to hang out with you, but you might find that they don’t want to work with you on projects. Students here are really focused on their grades, and they may have some idea that a foreign exchange student won’t try as hard. I’ve actually seen this outside of the US, too. Part of it is because the exchange students sometimes get a pass on their grades or aren’t as focused on academics.
Love #3: Diversity at Universities
Universities in the United States have a lot of cultural diversity, which really helps contribute to the unique atmosphere. It also means that when you start to get homesick for your countries cuisine, you can usually find it on campus or find other students and professors from your home country.
Hate #4: Class Restrictions
When you first get the course catalog for your new university, you may get really excited at all of the options. There are hundreds, sometimes thousands, of classes. The problem is, they may have a lot of class restrictions regarding who can sign up for the class. Two of the three classes I teach are open to exchange students, and only a certain percentage of spots are allocated to exchange students. This is something to look into before you choose your university.
Love #4: Practical Based Education
While US Universities may assign a lot of homework and projects, it’s a very practical based learning approach. We try to teach you for the job you’re going to have, not the theory behind the textbook related to the job. We actually work with companies outside of the university to give students a hands-on approach to life after university. You can get a great feel for what life will be like in the “real world” after you graduate.
Hate #5: Size of the United States
When you go to University in the United States, you’ll get a lot of breaks. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break and Summer Break are all great times to travel around the country and explore the States. With most University towns in the middle of nowhere, you can easily spend a full day just driving to the nearest big city. Trains and public transportation aren’t as prolific in the States as they are in Europe or other countries. Without EasyJet or RyanAir, flying in the States can also be pretty expensive.
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Love #5: Travel Opportunities in the United States
While the size of the United States may seem prohibitive to travel, there are still tons of opportunities to explore between semesters and on weekends. We typically have a week off for Thanksgiving, a month off for Christmas, a week off for Spring Break, plus three months off for summer. Once you have your visa, you can go anywhere in the US, so there are no restrictions for traveling within the States.
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Hate #6: Price of US Study
Studying in the US is expensive. If you’re on a study abroad program, you usually pay the same tuition you would pay at home. You want to verify this because American universities charge $10,000 per year and up. Public schools are slightly cheaper than private schools, but if you are not a resident of the state, you end up paying more. Books and living expenses can also be quite high.
Studying abroad is such a cool experience, and if you’re not from the United States, then it’s an excellent choice for your study abroad destination. Of course, the hates are just things to think about when choosing a university, not a reason to stay home! Want more travel tips? Check out these blog posts:
