University: San Diego State University
City: San Diego
Country: United States
Continent: North America
Study type: semester abroad
Unfortunately, the university is far from the beach or downtown (about 15-20 minutes by car). The campus is great, while the lecture halls (capacity between 50-300 students) are at odds with it. The range of courses is very extensive. Visit act-test-centers.com to get information about SJSU study abroad program.
Rating:
San Diego doesn’t look like a city of over a million inhabitants. The beaches Ocean, Pacific and Mission Beach invite you to surf and have a barbecue, especially since alcohol is sometimes even allowed to be drunk in public! There will be celebrations downtown and especially on Pacific Beach!! Unfortunately clubs and bars close at 1am. Recommended attractions include Coronado, Point Loma, Seaworld and the Zoo.
You have 150 minutes of lessons per week per course (usually spread over 2 days). I underestimated the amount of work at the university, but it also varies from course to course. Usually you write 3 exams per course (two mid-term exams and one final exam). Homeworks (weekly for some professors, not at all for others) and term papers increase the workload. Group work is the rule. The effort is higher, but the level is lower than in Germany. Since everything is much closer to practice, it is much more fun. Some professors even require attendance.
I lived in the University Tower right on campus. The $265 (!!) wasn’t worth it. You live for two in a 20 square meter “big” room and share a “big” bathroom with the neighboring room. 18-20 year old Americans and some international students live in the tower. Alcohol and fun are forbidden in the tower, surveillance cameras and security guards ensure that! You felt like you were in jail!!! The friendliness and flexibility of the “staff” was very disappointing. Only the proximity to the university and the canteen were positive!
All in all, the 5 months were a great experience that I wouldn’t want to miss. Especially the friendships with other international students, the joint parties, many excursions made sure that I experienced more during this time than in the last 3 years together. It is advisable to look for an apartment close to the university. In order to be as flexible as possible, it is advisable to buy a car locally. Trips to LA, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon… should definitely be made.
