University: San Jose State University
City: San Jose
Country: United States
Continent: North America
Field of study: business administration
Study type: semester abroad
Hello,
I studied for a year at San Jose State University in California. I have to admit that I had the best time of my life and my goal is to go back there to work and live there.
Preparation:
Well, I started thinking about a semester abroad very late because I only found out about the possibility very late. Nevertheless, everything worked out in the end, even if it was a race. I recommend starting planning 6 months before the start of the semester. It costs you less sweat and above all less money. It is worth booking plane tickets in advance. I had to wait for my VISA to be confirmed before I could book. So early planning is worthwhile : -) Visit mcat-test-centers.com to get information about University of Bristol.
San Jose is very pleasant to live in. However, the means of public transport cannot be compared with the German standard. They have buses and a lightrail. However, the waiting times are sometimes very long. The university is downtown. That means it is in the center of the city. Therefore, there are many places where you can eat and drink. A Walmart is about 5 bus stops away. There you can get everything you need to live. The people are very friendly and helpful. If you have no problem getting to know new cultures, then San Jose is the place to be. Here you will find Asians, Mexicans, Afro-Americans, Indians and many other nations.
San Jose State University:
It can be said about the university that the campus is very nice and manageable. That means it’s not too big and very organized. The buildings are relatively new and a new student union is currently under construction. This will be finished next year. I’m a business student. So I can only report on the classrooms in the business center. These are of a high standard and have a maximum capacity of 100 students. This is very good and not too crowded like I am used to from my own university in Germany.
Regarding the choice of courses for business courses, I can say that I mostly ended up in the courses that I wanted. It’s always good to check professors’ emails and write to them beforehand and introduce yourself. Then just go to the first lecture and talk to the professor. If they still have room, then by all means come in. The atmosphere at San Jose State University is very friendly. It’s a very multicultural university. This corresponds to the entire state of California. Asians make up the majority. However, everyone speaks English. That’s why you don’t need to worry. The professors are very helpful and friendly to everyone. In the business courses you will always have projects where you get to know other students. I really like studying in the US. SJSU is very hands-on. You learn what you will later apply in your job. In Germany, everything is too theory-heavy. In addition, the SJSU has many contacts to technology companies such as IBM, APPLE, GOOGLE.
The level of difficulty of the courses was not very high for me. However, it is because I am already in the 8th semester.
Accomodation:
I lived in Campus Village and shared my apartment with 5 other Americans. I wanted to meet more locals and improve my English, that’s why I chose Campus Village. It’s not exactly the cheapest option ($3500 per semester), but still cheaper than the International House ($1000 per month). There are more activities at International House, but most of the time you’ll be with people who don’t speak the language that well. There are many clubs at SJSU that you can join and meet new people. I preferred this variant.
UNITED STATES:
As for the country, I can say that the USA really is the best country to live and work in. For me, California is the perfect place : -). If you are here, you should definitely pay a visit to Las Vegas and New York. Worth it. Especially Vegas. In addition, many sights are not too far from California (Yellowstone, Yosemite). If you wanted a beach, I recommend Southern California Beaches. San Diego, Venice Beach or Huntington Beach. These are better than those in the north.
Conclusion:
I had only planned to stay there for one semester. However, I liked it so much that I did another one. Bafög had helped me a little. I have made friends for life and will definitely return.
