Details

• United States of America
• BBE-18
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 3 months

1. Preparation

Prepare yourself for the interview. Ask students who already had the interview which questions were asked. Preparing for your semester abroad can be overwhelming, as there are so many different things to do and different types of informations you have to provide or upload somewhere. Start early to gather all documents. For example at OSU some vaccines were required and you can only register for classes there if you have the vaccines or at least have a temporal lift. Visa application also seems much but if you just follow the given the instructions its super easy. There will be no hard questions just prepare for long wait times at the embassy. If you pack your stuff dont overfill your luggage, you will probably buy or get so much merch from the host university so you need the additional space. Check and get in contact with the other students from WU who will be at the same university. Its good to have people to talk about issues and if you think you are the only one with the problem, everyone else has the same issue as well.

2. Accommodation

Getting accommodation at OSU on Campus is a long process. They have their own portal just for the housing. I personally stayed on campus in the newest hall there, in a shared appartment. Very important is to apply early for the housing as it is on a first come, first serve basis. There is also housing off campus. For example the Ihouse or some private persons rent some in their house. I got to know people who lived in various places and this is my experience: New hall - shared appartment: expansive but new and clean; own kitchen and bathroom with your flat mate. On campus, so short walk to campus for lectures. But community is not that big (you wont get to know much people from there, if you dont force it or already know someone there) Ihouse: House with nearly only international students with shared bathrooms, kitchen and common rooms. Not that much cheaper (around 300$ per month cheaper) eventhough the house is older and not the clean (many people living there). Great community! i got friends with the people living there eventhough i didnt live there and they had a great community and bonded really fast. Be aware big parties happening there, which can be cool or annoying (depends on the person you are) Off campus houses: full houses off campus. Better if you are a group and can afford a bigger rent. its nice that you have your own place for yourself but you are most probably far away from campus and need a car or at least a bike for the daily commute.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus on OSU is very nice. Just like you imagine a College from the US or you see it in the movies. You have free busses on campus to get around (but i never had to really use them). There is a big sports facility (gym, swimming pool, outside or inside fields where you can play at any time). Lots of food halls on campus or fast food restaurants close by. Academic culture is more like a FH or normal school. So a lot of small homework or group work. Some of more smaller exams over the time of the term, some courses dont even have an exam at the end. Generally speaking its easier than at WU. Teaching style is very similiar but for them class participation is more important than anything else. And attandance is often required.

5. Every day life in the host country

Getting around near campus is very easy. On a daily basis most of the times i just walked. Also to grocery stores, restaurants or bars. If you want to see Oregon and travel you have to have a car. Most of the times we rented one or our american friends with a car drove. Renting is not that expensive if you are over 25 and you are of course more people. Corvallis is a very safe city. Did not here about any issues regarding that. Of course you see some sketchy people in the public parks but nothing compared to Vienna. There is so much to do on and off campus. On campus you can do so much different sport. There is a facility for everything. I even joined a flag football team. There is even a bowling ally or a dance club on campus. If you dont want to do sports yourself you can watch all the games from Football, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Wrestling .... Its a super fun activity with your friends and its happening every weeks mulitiple times. Off campus there is also so much to see. Oregon is very diverse (from coast over mountains to a desert) and beautiful. But prepare yourself for long drives as the dimensions are some much bigger than in Austria. Night live is okay. Most bars close at 2 am. Best bar is Peacock. It is a big bar with two floors. You can play billard there, do Karaoke and very Wednesday and Friday there is line dancing. Super fun. All in all you wont get bored there, you will find something to do.

6. Testimonial

One of the best experiences I had in my entire life! I got the see a new country, culture and univerity. I now have friendships all over the world! The live at OSU is so much fun and you have so much to do and see. I would not trade this experience for anything!