Details

• United States of America
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

For the application process, I would strongly recommend being well prepared and very specific during the interview. Having clear arguments for your top five university choices and demonstrating concrete knowledge about them can make a significant difference. In addition, researching the person who will conduct the interview and asking other students about their experiences helps to better understand what to expect and how to prepare accordingly. Overall, it seemed to me that the interview was the most decisive part of the selection process (besides academic performance), whereas the written application form itself played a rather minor role. When preparing for the exchange semester, I would highly recommend creating a detailed to-do list that includes all relevant tasks, both before the semester starts and during the first days abroad. This helps to stay organized and avoid feeling overwhelmed by the many small administrative and logistical tasks. Talking to fellow students who are going to the same region or university is especially helpful, as they often face similar challenges and can share practical advice. Furthermore, reaching out to former exchange students is extremely valuable. Learning from their mistakes and experiences provides realistic insights into academic requirements, housing, course selection, and daily life at the host university. Overall, making active use of your personal and academic network can significantly reduce uncertainty and make the transition into the exchange semester much smoother.

2. Accommodation

I lived at The Lorenzo, as this accommodation had been chosen by all previous exchange students from WU Vienna. For that reason, I did not invest much time in exploring alternative housing options beforehand. The Lorenzo is a student housing complex offering both private and shared rooms. It provides a wide range of amenities, such as a gym, pool, and common areas. The building is located on South Figueroa Street, an area that can be described as rather dirty and not particularly appealing. It is approximately a 20 to 30-minute walk from the Marshall School of Business, but it is relatively close to Frat Row and USC Village. While the area is generally considered unsafe, I personally walked home there quite often at night and never felt directly threatened, which made the situation acceptable for me. Overall, I would have liked to be more informed about other housing options, such as Troy Hall, as every student accommodation has its own advantages and disadvantages. One downside of The Lorenzo is that it also hosts many families, which felt somewhat random in a student housing context. Additionally, apart from fellow exchange students, there were not many residents I personally connected with. The management and customer service experience was particularly disappointing and can best be described as very poor. Nevertheless, The Lorenzo is, in my opinion, somewhat overhated. Considering the price and the amenities offered, it remains a solid option for exchange students who prioritize convenience and facilities over atmosphere.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus infrastructure at the University of Southern California is exceptionally well developed and plays an important role in students’ daily academic life. The campus offers extensive facilities such as a large outdoor pool, two fully equipped gyms, grocery stores, and numerous fast-food options and cafés located directly on or near campus. This infrastructure makes it easy to spend most of the day on campus and contributes to a strong sense of community among students. From an academic perspective, USC is a highly competitive and renowned private university. Compared to WU Vienna, the academic culture at USC places a stronger emphasis on personal interaction between students and professors. Class sizes are generally smaller, which allows for more direct communication and individual feedback. Professors actively encourage participation and often make an effort to learn students’ names and backgrounds. The teaching style differs noticeably from that at WU Vienna. Courses at USC are more interactive and practice-oriented, with a strong focus on group work, class discussions, and continuous assessment rather than final exams alone. Attendance is usually expected and contributes to the overall course grade. However, attendance control is handled in a relatively relaxed and informal manner, relying more on trust and personal responsibility than on strict enforcement. Regarding assessment, the difficulty of exams largely depends on course selection. If students choose courses strategically, exams tend to be less stressful and more application-based compared to those at WU Vienna. Overall, the academic environment at USC feels more personal, supportive, and experience-oriented, while WU Vienna is generally more structured and exam-focused.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Los Angeles is shaped by a mix of opportunities and challenges, particularly in terms of transportation, safety, and leisure activities. Public transportation generally allows you to get from point A to point B, but it is often time-consuming and unreliable. In addition, encounters with unusual or uncomfortable situations and people are not uncommon, which can make public transport feel unpleasant at times. As a result, many students rely on walking, ride-sharing services, or cars whenever possible. Regarding safety, Los Angeles clearly has areas that should be avoided, especially at night. Certain neighborhoods feel unsafe, and the presence of many homeless people, for example in areas such as Venice Beach during the evening, can be intimidating. Being aware of your surroundings and knowing which areas to avoid is therefore essential for daily life. In terms of social and leisure activities, USC offers a wide variety of student clubs and organizations. While many of these clubs were not fully aligned with my personal interests, they often host enjoyable events and parties. Fraternity parties play a major role in the social scene; however, getting in can be difficult. While it is possible to join a fraternity, membership is expensive, and individual fraternities do not host a large number of parties on their own. There is also a noticeable difference in quality, as some fraternities organize much better events than others. That said, trying to get into fraternity parties without formal membership often worked and was generally worth the effort. Sports activities are also a key part of student life. I participated in an intramural soccer league, which was fun and provided a good opportunity to stay active, even though the organization was not always ideal. USC’s intramural program offers leagues for a wide range of sports, making it easy for students with different interests to get involved. Finally, the welcome week events were somewhat underwhelming in terms of organization and variety. However, they still provided an initial opportunity to meet other students and ease into life at USC.

6. Testimonial

My exchange experience was definitely fun, unique, and enriching, especially when it came to exploring American culture and campus life. At the same time, it is important to be prepared for challenges, particularly when it comes to finding people who truly match your vibe. I was surprised to see how often students tended to stick with others from their own nationality, which I did not expect and found slightly disappointing. From my experience, it is crucial to actively build a large network from day one and make the most of every opportunity, especially by talking to people in class. Some of the people I connected with, I met relatively late during the semester, and I often thought about how much fun it would have been to know them earlier. Even though I set clear goals for my exchange, I still have a few regrets about not approaching certain people sooner, which taught me how important proactivity is in an international environment.