Details

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

1. Preparation

Invest time in research early, both for the interview and when filling out the application documents. Look into former students’ experiences that are shared online. I personally had the best luck on platforms like Reddit and Facebook. Also, research student clubs and sports opportunities: many of them have active and informative Instagram accounts. That helped me a lot when the interviewer asked why I wanted to be placed at USC, because I could explain my motivation in a specific and convincing way, rather than just saying I like Los Angeles or California. However, try to be authentic within that. Another tip is to show a broad interest in the political and economic situation of the state and the country. Come prepared with a variety of reasons for your choice and try to be as specific as possible about who you are and which experiences led you to this decision. Finally, I recommend getting in touch with incoming students the semester before you leave, ideally even students going to your preferred host university or host country. That helped me calm my nerves and gave me a better sense of what school and daily life would be like in advance.

2. Accommodation

The housing search was easy because all WU students in our group chose The Lorenzo. We picked it mainly because it’s the “standard” option from previous years and known for having many international residents. Since many exchange students live there, it’s easy to meet people and you naturally spend a lot of time together. The Lorenzo is a private apartment complex (not officially affiliated with USC), but most residents are USC students and the building is close to campus. It provides an hourly shuttle to USC, which was consistent and reliable. The main advantage is the amenities: several pools, rooftop areas, and sports facilities. On the downside I personally would not choose The Lorenzo again because of frustrations with management. Since it’s privately run, the service felt more “commercial” than student-focused and tended to be highly intransparent especially regarding pricing. The application process was unclear, and for several months it was very difficult to reach staff for answers. After moving in, getting help with maintenance requests was also slow and often unhelpful. The location itself was better than expected. After a few weeks, I was comfortable walking to campus during the day, but I would avoid walking at night, because the area around The Lorenzo can feel unsafe and there are often homeless individuals nearby.

3. Academic life at host university

In this category, I honestly have nothing to complain about. I really loved the student life, the campus infrastructure and buildings, and especially the courses. The professors are excellent speakers and genuinely invested in their students; they make an effort to learn your name quickly, ask for your opinion, and encourage discussion. Many of them also bring impressive professional backgrounds and a lot of experience from their respective fields. Most classes also bring in highly interesting guest speakers throughout the semester. I also really enjoyed the student culture. Students were super welcoming and also consistently committed in classes. I hardly met anyone who wasn’t motivated. In terms of academic difficulty, I wouldn’t say it was harder than at WU. Exams are generally less emphasized, but the ongoing workload can be intense: frequent assignments, readings and project deadlines can add up quickly and become exhausting in some courses.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport in Los Angeles exists but is fairly underdeveloped. The Metro and buses can get you to many places but definetly not to all of the major ones, but it often takes a long time and as a woman I wouldn’t recommend using it at night. I relied a lot on Uber and Waymo (self-driving cars that can be cheaper), though they’re still much more expensive than in Vienna. USC also offers useful partnerships and discounts with car rental services like Enterprise and Zipcar—worth checking in advance. Overall, I felt reasonably safe during the day, but homelessness is very visible, especially around Downtown/Figueroa and near USC, which can feel depressing/worrying. I spent most of my time exploring highlights like Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, hiking in the Hollywood Hills, visiting studios of the Entertainment Industry, and going to the beach (Manhattan Beach and Malibu were my favorites but Santa Monica is easy to access from USC). Fall semester life revolves a lot around Greek life and football/basketball games—definitely experience it, It's something so new and different to our Uni Life here—and USC’s early-semester club fairs, where sports, business and fun clubs present themselves, are great for getting involved quickly.

6. Testimonial

I absolutely loved my exchange, living in Los Angeles felt like being in a movie every day. Studying at such a prestigious university was a real privilege and a field trip to Mexico even gave me hands-on insight into global business strategy. Beyond academics, I made meaningful friendships and created unforgettable memories while exploring Southern California - hiking, beach days, museums and endless sightseeing. I’m truly grateful WU gave me the opportunity to experience studying from a new perspective and to get to know the friendly, generous and welcoming American culture.