A perfect blend of academic life and laid-back coastal culture

Studying abroad at San Diego State University (SDSU) has been a unique experience for me, especially when it comes to academics. I’m currently enrolled in four subjects spanning Communications (COM103), Sociology (SOC101), Exercise science (ENS330) and Economics (ECON 406). These subjects are not direct equivalents to what I’d typically study at UTS, but I deliberately chose a mix of electives to learn some new things and enjoy myself. The facilities here at SDSU are great. There’s a large recreation centre with a gym and basketball courts, and the campus is massive, with plenty of green space, a library and plenty of cafes and food places. My classes are fairly like UTS, with most classes having a large lecture and a small section (essentially a tutorial). One thing you’ll likely enjoy is that the classes are more social, as is pretty much anything here at college in the USA. The orientation and check in was quick and easy and gave us an opportunity to meet other international students, and the admin staff that help us out on exchange.

Living as a college student in San Diego offers a perfect blend of academic life and laid-back coastal culture. With year-round sunny weather, you can balance your studies with outdoor activities like surfing, hiking, or just relaxing on the beach. Being so close to Mexico, there’s great Mexican food everywhere, and the college area has a great vibe. I’m currently living off campus in an apartment complex which has a lot of other students in it. There’s lots of different off campus buildings for students, as its rare to get accommodation on campus. Living in the USA is somewhat similar to Australia, so don’t come expecting a huge culture shock, but the uni life is different to back home, as most people live on campus, so the college campus is where everything happens.

Some tips I would give for incoming USA exchange students is to:

1. Budget: I’ve found that a lot of things are 1.5x more expensive than in Australia, if something in Sydney is $5, its $5 in San Diego, but one USD ≈ 1.5 AUD, so budget carefully!
2. Do as much as you can: Try to get involved with anything you can and make as many plans as possible. Don’t waste any time and experience as much as you can.
3. Travel: While its great to experience as much as you can on campus, take being in another country to your advantage and plan some trips around the US!

Good luck with your applications!

Josh Finkel
Bachelor of Business Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation
San Diego State University (SDSU), United States
Global Exchange Scholarship

For more information about the UTS Global Exchange program please visit: www.uts.edu.au/thinkglobal