The biggest problem I faced with Arizona State University was registering for classes at the very beginning. As the process of being accepted as an exchange student into ASU took a very long time, I was not able to enrol into the classes I wanted originally as by the time I was allowed to do so, most classes were full and I had to find alternatives. Students did not have the possibility of listening to lectures online for my classes; therefore most classes were full to capacity. The biggest upset was the fact I was not able to study a management class I planned on studying to get credit for BSB115 over here. However this problem could not be avoided and hopefully future students don’t have to suffer the same problem.
I would have liked to know the length of the process of being accepted as an ASU student before I left, so I could have communicated prior to coming with my professors in order to see if they could reserve a spot for me. The advice I would give to future exchange students is that they should have backup courses that they want to study if their intended courses fall through. It would save a lot of time and hassle by doing so. However the exchange department on QUT’s end was very helpful during the time I was changing my study plan, and without them it would have been a lot more stressful and complicated.
I would also advise future students to socialise as much as they can outside the exchange student’s circle as possible in order to meet actual students from that country/college. I spent little time with other members of the exchange group at ASU because I wanted to make friends with actual ASU students as I believed I would be able to experience the American culture to a greater extent with them than by sticking with other international students. I believe that this was really effective and easily the best decision to make, as I have made life-long friends who were able to show me the side of American culture I was looking to experience, and I believe I could not have done that had I not socialised outside the exchange circle.
My exchange experience in the USA was the best 6 months of my life so far, and I strongly encourage anyone to take part in an exchange program because it really is an invaluable experience and the chance to experience another culture is amazing.
2 Comments
Awesome Feedback – Do you reckon the best way to meet the local Americans is to join the sports clubs and societies?
Hey Jack, there is definitely many more other ways to meet local Americans but I reckon getting involved in your exchange Uni is the easiet way to meet them.