Details

• United States of America
• BaWiSo-19
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

The preparation for the exchange semester at the University of Pittsburgh was very straightforward and required little effort. Prepare everything in advance and don't take it too serious.

2. Accommodation

It is very, very important to take care of accommodation immediately after receiving the acceptance. Otherwise, you end up paying significantly more. I lived in SkyVue Apartments and paid around USD 1,700 per month, as comfort and cleanliness were very important to me. My apartment was only five minutes from campus. The area was safe, but you still need to stay alert. Unfortunately, stressful situations with certain people can occur, which is typical for the US

3. Academic life at host university

The University of Pittsburgh campus is large and typical for a U.S. inner-city university. Academically, the level is quite easy compared to WU Vienna, but there are many assignments, quizzes, and tests. This makes the workload time-consuming, even though the content itself is not difficult. Course registration is poorly organized. You cannot enroll yourself and instead have to email an academic advisor, which did not work well in my case, as my personal advisor was on vacation. Several of my desired courses were already full, and I was advised to take less interesting alternatives just to be enrolled. I strongly recommend not blindly following the advisor’s suggestions. During the add-and-drop period, I managed to get into all the courses I originally wanted. My tip: email the departments early once you receive the course list and always check professors on Rate My Professor. Good professors make a huge difference, so you don’t suffer all semester long.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in the U.S. was straightforward. Public transport is free with the Pitt student ID, so you should get the card on your first day to avoid paying for buses. From the airport, it’s best to use Uber or Lyft, as regular taxis are overpriced and can be unreliable. Buses can get very crowded, and it’s important to stay alert and avoid conflicts, especially on public transport, as you may occasionally encounter people looking for trouble. When talking about trouble, I want to share one experience to raise awareness. One time, I was outside with my friend Felix from WU, just hanging out, when a serious confrontation broke out between a gang member and others nearby. After a short shooting incident, fortunately nothing happened and the situation ended without further escalation. This experience wasn't pleasant, but necessary, in order to be able to share it with you, to clearly emphasize the importance of staying alert and cautious. There are plenty of activities and clubs in Pittsburgh. Sports events are highly recommended and are more fun when you go with American students. You can even take sports as courses at the University of Pittsburgh, which also offers excellent sports facilities. In addition, there are many good parties and bars, so social life is very active. Be careful with tipping and service fees. You do not have to tip everyone.

6. Testimonial

My exchange at the University of Pittsburgh was intense, fun, and unforgettable. Between great parties, traveling, and sharing the experience with other WU students, it never got boring. The huge range of sports opportunities, including a soccer tournament, was a highlight for me, as well as the surprisingly good food. Even the more challenging, intense and dangerous moments were part of what made the exchange special and memorable.