Details

• United States of America
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months

1. Preparation

We were the first generation of exchange students experiencing the new application process. In general, the final assignment is based on the GPA and the personal assessment, and the underlying personal ranking of partner universities can be considered strategy-proof (no improvement possible by lying about your ranking). For the interview, I had to answer the following general questions: 1) Can you share a challenging situation you encountered in the past, and how you maintained a positive attitude throughout? and 2) What makes you a standout candidate for this role?

2. Accommodation

I would definitely recommend starting the housing search as soon as possible. Finding accommodation as an exchange students can be a bit of a hassle, probably especially in the Fall term. I lived off campus in an Airbnb house together with three WU Master exchange students. We had a great time, and it was very convenient in terms of living together, furnishing, etc. Yet, the distance from the university (about 25 minutes including a short bus ride) made it less accessible to go to the campus on the fly, while student life happens on campus. In general, the housing search in Ann Arbor can be tedious/expensive, but if you come across a good offer or can afford an on-campus residence, I can only recommend it as well and believe that living on campus even increases the value of your stay. Overall, I felt very secure in Ann Arbor and the fact that A2 repeatedly ranks as a highly livable city speaks for its safety and quality of life as well.

3. Academic life at host university

I truly enjoyed the academic life in Michigan. You can feel the school spirit walking across campus, and probably every second person is wearing some kind of Michigan clothing. You are immediately integrated as an exchange student and can take the same pride in being at the University of Michigan. As an Econ major, I have taken both business and economics classes at Ross and LSA. The lecturers are amazing, and among them, there are some of the brightest professors in the US. All my professors were passionate about their lectures and very open to answering all kinds of questions, so it was a pleasure attending classes. Besides academics, the resources are never-ending, from top-notch gyms to networking events, the Tozzi Finance Center and counseling. Of course, Spritzerstand is missing, but all the sport events make up well for it.

5. Every day life in the host country

Ann Arbor is a great college town, and the university is just as much Ann Arbor as Ann Arbor is the university. The public transportation is relatively good by U.S. standards. From my experience, the bus schedule was perfectly on time in the early morning, yet the reliability of the services declined as the day went on. Again, A2 is a very livable city, especially for students, not least because of all the events and the strong student community. In terms of sports, the University of Michigan is unbeatable. The football program is among the best in the country, and being part of gamedays at the Big House in an experience of its own. There are plenty of events going on for tailgating, and UofM students know how to throw a good party. Besides the flagship football program, the basketball and hockey programs rank equally well and are super fun to attend. Of course, there are more than enough opportunities to do sports yourself. They are currently building a new $165 million fitness facility that looks too good to be true (Hadley Family Recreation & Wellbeing Center). Besides, there is also the Intramural Sports Building and other great sport opportunities, like running clubs, to name one. With 1,700 student organizations in total (I am not sure about the number, but there are definitely enough), everybody finds something that meets their interests. I got to know a couple of clubs and societies at the “Festifall” event at the end of August and can especially recommend the Michigan International Student Society (MISS) and, for economics students, the Michigan Economics Society. If all the fun activities make you hungry, there is an abundance of food options around campus. Chipotle and Qdoba were my favorites. I can also recommend checking out the dining hall, especially South Quad and Mosher-Jordan. You can buy Blue Bucks to pay / enter and choose from a bunch of delicious meals, so it can be a great deal every now and then. More importantly, there’s also Frita Batidos (best burgers ever!) and Zingerman’s, which are the best food places in A2 in my opinion. If you need your daily coffee or tea to get the day started, check out the Unlimited Sip Club offer from Panera Bread. You basically pay about $5 per month and can get as many drinks as you like. The coffee is not good to be honest, but still, I know some friends who highly enjoyed the subscription. Also, just a 45-minute drive from Ann Arbor, Detroit is the nearest major city and is experiencing a renaissance. Definitely worth a couple of visits, maybe for concerts or a Lions (NFL) or Pistons (NBA) game.

6. Testimonial

Personally, I consider the University of Michigan to be one of the best universities WU is partnering with, as it combines the perfect mix of academia, sports, and a genuine U.S. campus experience. Academically, the business undergraduate program ranks in the top 5 in the U.S., and UofM is regarded as one of the best public universities in the U.S. in general. The professors are amazing, and all my courses were super fun. The sports events, especially the football gamedays at the Big House, are an experience of their own. The Big House is the largest stadium in the U.S., with a seating capacity of over 100,000, and it’s truly an unforgettable experience to be part of that crowd, cheering for your university after having the best time at tailgating. I believe that the University of Michigan is exceptional in many categories and an incredible choice for a semester abroad! I am forever thankful for this once in a lifetime opportunity! Go Blue!