Details

• United States of America
• BaWiSo-19
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

Application process When applying for an exchange semester, try to balance both the courses you want to take and the university or country you want to go to. Many universities you might be interested in may not offer the courses you need, or they may only offer courses you have already completed. Additionally, even though there are many options when choosing partner universities, some are limited to courses for first-year students or specific specialization tracks. The application process usually consists of your overall grade average as well as the interview. Extracurricular activities can help if your grades are weaker, but they are rarely enough on their own for highly competitive universities, as many of them offer places for only one or two students per semester. I strongly recommend researching the university, the country and region, and the available courses as well as preparing clear reasons for your choices. During the interview, you should expect questions about your future career plans and your motivation for choosing specific universities and countries, so you need to be fully prepared. Competition can be tough, so before applying, try to get strong grades in easier courses at WU to raise your overall grade average. The application process may seem complicated at first, but the International Office and its website are very helpful. If you follow the guidelines provided, you should not have any major problems. Additionally, start preparing early so you have enough time to deal with changes or unexpected issues. Preparing for semester Check your password expiration date, your vaccination boosters, and which vaccines you may need. If necessary, take a new passport photo. Book your flights as early as possible, as ticket prices may increase over time. It is also recommended to follow the news in your host country and region, so you stay informed and prepared. Immigration policies, economic instability, or conflicts may affect your stay abroad. It can also be helpful to learn about the university, campus culture, and the city (or nearest city). Research bars, restaurants, public transport, accommodation options, and general price differences. Most universities cover these topics during orientation week, but it is better to prepare beforehand, especially if you arrive early. Many students arrive a few days before orientation begins, so it helps to already know your surroundings. It is also a good idea to pack lightly, since by the end of the semester you will likely have bought new things such as clothes, university merchandise, souvenirs, etc. I recommend getting in touch with faculty and students at the host university, either via email or WhatsApp. In my experience, they are very helpful and respond quickly. They can answer questions about the university, campus, and city. Additionally, I recommend connecting with other exchange students who will be studying there as well. The beginning can sometimes feel challenging or lonely but knowing people beforehand can make the experience much better.

2. Accommodation

The University of Minnesota sent me a list of possible accommodation options on campus and nearby, along with their respective websites. Researching was quite easy, and the websites were very informative. I chose Yudof Residence Hall, which is a student residence. It had the best location since it is directly on campus, and all my classes were within a 10-minute walk. The metro station was also just five minutes away, and across from Yudof there was another building with multiple food options. It felt very safe, as entry was only permitted with a university key card. You had to scan it once to enter the reception area and then again to access the hall where the apartments were located. Tips I wish I’d known beforehand I did have some issues with Yudof because the laundry machines ran on cold water only for environmental reasons. That meant the clothes never got fully clean, and bacteria could remain on them. This was especially inconvenient considering that students had to share rooms with multiple roommates.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus infrastructure at the University of Minnesota was great. The campus is very large and includes many buildings for different departments and research facilities. Multiple buildings across campus have food courts and dining halls. The university is located right in the middle of Minneapolis and is easily accessible by public transport. The metro was free because it was included in the tuition, although it was slower than European metro systems. The academic culture is superb, with endless opportunities to socialize and take part in a variety of extracurricular activities such as climbing, football, squash, tennis, chess, bingo, language courses, animal petting, and events like Homecoming Week, food tastings, and more. The University of Minnesota genuinely focuses on creating a strong college culture, and this becomes especially clear during sports events with halftime shows, mascots, fireworks, parades, and other social activities. The courses are not too difficult, and there are plenty of opportunities to improve your grade even if you perform poorly on one exam. Compared to courses at WU, they are relatively easy, and failing seems less likely than getting a good grade. The courses are designed in a way that if you pay attention during lectures and complete the assignments, you should already be well prepared for the exams. Additionally, most courses include multiple quizzes, tests, and midterms before the final exam, which makes it even easier to achieve good results. The lectures were much more interactive than at WU, and professors encouraged students to work with the course material in practical ways instead of relying on repetitive learning. This made studying more interesting and motivating. However, one thing that bothered me about the education system was the strong focus on homework and the sheer amount of it. After every lecture, students would receive many quizzes, multiple-choice assignments, and homework tasks to complete before the next class. I liked the concept at first, but over time it became overwhelming. In my opinion, these tasks did not always support learning and felt more like a hassle than a real benefit. Overall, it often seemed like quantity over quality. I also was not a big fan of the teaching style, because professors sometimes treated students more like high school students rather than university students. In my opinion, the teaching level was not as academic as I expected. The professors were clearly knowledgeable in their subjects, but they did not always manage to transfer that knowledge effectively to the students.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport was included in the tuition fees, so all students could use it for free. The metro was easy to access, and the entire city was well connected through public transport. However, the metro system was relatively slow. Public transport also wasn’t completely safe with certain people on the metros, as they would use drugs and begin shouting or threatening people. There often were security patrols there but that probably couldn’t have always helped people. In terms of safety, the campus itself felt quite secure. That said, there were occasional emergency alerts about shootings in the surrounding area, which was unsettling at times. Minneapolis overall felt less safe in comparison, with some sketchy areas and people on the streets, especially at night. In certain parts of the city, I would not recommend walking alone after dark. The academic culture is superb, with endless opportunities to socialize and take part in a variety of extracurricular activities such as climbing, football, squash, tennis, chess, bingo, language courses, animal petting, and events like Homecoming Week, food tastings, and more. The University of Minnesota genuinely focuses on creating a strong college culture, and this becomes especially clear during sports events with halftime shows, mascots, fireworks, parades, and other social activities.

6. Testimonial

Overall, my exchange semester was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had. I met amazing people and built genuine friendships with other exchange students, many of whom I still stay in contact with. Minneapolis is a beautiful city, even though it sometimes felt a bit empty or quiet. Studying in the USA also gave me the opportunity to travel to other cities and places such as New York, Las Vegas, and Mount Rushmore. It was a great cultural experience as well, because I got to meet everyday Americans and exchange cultures. I saw and experienced so many new things, and I genuinely enjoyed every second of my stay. Although the academic level was not always to my liking, the college culture more than made up for it. College life there was the best I have ever seen, and it honestly makes me a little sad that European universities don’t offer the same kind of experience.